Sep 7, 2013
IRVINE, Calif. - The San Diego State cross country team placed four runners in the top nine en route to capturing the adidas/UCI Invitational Saturday in Irvine, Calif.
The Aztecs finished with 41 points, easily outdistancing runner-up The Master's (77). Cal Lutheran (84), host UC Irvine (95) and Cal State San Bernardino (155) rounded out the top five. SDSU beat 12 other teams in all for its third cross country title in nine races (since 2012).
Laura Vazquez led the way once again for San Diego State, taking third out of 134 finishers. She completed the 5,000-meter course in a personal-best time of 18 minutes, 24.5 seconds. Hannah Kellerman (The Master's) and Melissa Skiba (Cal Lutheran) finished first and second in 17:51.4 and 18:17.8, respectively.
Three Aztecs followed Vazquez in the top nine, including Chelsea Kruthers in fifth (18:33.9), Rachel Roesgen in eighth (18:43.4) and Jessica Cygan in ninth (18:46.1). Both Kruthers and Roesgen ran collegiate PR's, while Cygan's 18:46.1 was an SDSU best time for the William & Mary transfer.
San Diego State also received collegiate-best times by Katy Smith (17th, 19:14.1), Elaine Ribeiro (20th, 19:21.2), Melissa Wendorf (38th, 19:55.3) and Cali King (81st, 21:00.6).
The Aztecs finished with seven personal-best times on the day.
SDSU returns to competition on Sept. 21 when it plays host to the 69th annual Aztec Invitational. The day gets underway at 7:30 a.m. PT with the Dirt Dog Community 5K race.
Adidas/UCI Invitational
Irvine, Calif. - UC Irvine
Team Results (out of 13 teams)
1. San Diego State - 41
2. The Master's - 77
3. Cal Lutheran - 84
4. UC Irvine - 95
5. Cal State San Bernardino - 155
5K Individual Results (out of 134 runners)
1. Hannah Kellerman (The Master's) - 17:51.4
2. Melissa Skiba (Cal Lutheran) - 18:17.8
3. Laura Vazquez (SDSU) - 18:24.5
4. Karis Franklen (The Master's) - 18:31.4
5. Chelsea Kruthers (SDSU) - 18:33.9
8. Rachel Roesgen (SDSU) - 18:43.4
9. Jessica Cygan (SDSU) - 18:46.1
17. Katy Smith (SDSU) - 19:14.1
20. Elaine Ribeiro (SDSU) - 19:21.2
38. Melissa Wendorf (SDSU) - 19:55.3
81. Cali King (SDSU) - 21:00.6