Cross Country

Cross Country Takes Fourth at Aztec Invitational

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Sept. 21, 2013

Complete Results | Photo Gallery

SAN DIEGO - The San Diego State cross country team finished in fourth place at the 69th annual Aztec Invitational Saturday at historic Balboa Park in San Diego.

The Aztecs, who ran without their top runner Laura Vazquez and another top-five competitor Jessica McCall, totaled 87 points to come in fourth out of 11 teams. No. 10 Arkansas finished with a perfect score of 15 points to win the meet after having the first eight runners cross the finish line first. Biola, which is ranked fifth in the latest NAIA poll, took second with 64 points, while USC (76), SDSU (87) and Point Loma's `A' squad (164) rounded out the top five.

Rachel Roesgen was the top San Diego State finisher, coming in 13th-place with a 5K time of 18 minutes, 51 seconds. Roesgen's time was a minute faster than last year's 19:51.7 clocking at the same meet.

Chelsea Kruthers was the next Aztec to cross the finish line as she was 16th in 18:52. Last year at the Aztec Invitational Kruthers was 21st in 19:55.9.

Jessica Cygan (20th, 19:20), Elaine Ribeiro (21st, 19:23) and Dynasty Gammage (25th, 20:04), meanwhile, each made their home debut and finished among the top five on the team.

Katy Smith shaved more than 16 seconds off last year's time and finished 27th today in 20:15, while Melissa Wendorf took 30th in 20:25 after running 21:43.8 at this meet in 2012 and 21:07.7 in 2011. Running her first Aztec Invitational 5K, Cali King came in 44th in 21:25.

Dominique Scott led Arkansas' contingent in 17:33 to claim the individual victory.

Biola won the men's 8K with 20 points, led by Danny Ledesma's win in 27:07.

The Dirt Dog Community 5K was also a success with 206 runners completing the course. Former Stanford star Jonathan Pierce won the race in 16:00. Former UCLA Bruin Claire Rethmeier was the top female finisher, taking 35th overall in 18:18. The Dirt Dog Community 5K featured all runners from the age of 12 to 77.

SDSU returns to competition on Friday, Oct. 4 at the NCAA Inter-Regional Jamboree in Sacramento.

69th Annual Aztec Invitational
Balboa Park - San Diego, Calif.
Sept. 21, 2013

Women's 5K Team Results
1. No. 10 Arkansas - 15
2. (NAIA No. 5) Biola - 64
3. USC - 76
4. San Diego State - 87
5. Point Loma `A' - 164
6. Palomar - 174
7. Point Loma `B' - 214
8. Holy Names - 234
9. San Diego `A' - 280
10. Imperial Valley - 304
11. San Diego `B' - 345

Women's 5K Individual Results (out of 85 finishers)
1. Dominique Scott (Arkansas) - 17:33
2. Grace Heymsfield (Arkansas) - 17:34
3. Shannon Klenke (Arkansas) - 17:38
4. Sandle Raines (Arkansas) - 17:42
5. Diane Robison (Arkansas) - 17:54
13. Rachel Roesgen (SDSU) - 18:51
16. Chelsea Kruthers (SDSU) - 18:52
20. Jessica Cygan (SDSU) - 19:20
21. Elaine Ribeiro (SDSU) - 19:23
25. Dynasty Gammage (SDSU) - 20:04
27. Katy Smith (SDSU) - 20:15
30. Melissa Wendorf (SDSU) - 20:25
44. Cali King (SDSU) - 21:25