Nov. 13, 2013
SAN DIEGO -
SDSU XC TOP TIMES | LIVE RESULTS | MEET PAGE
The San Diego State cross country team will compete against some of the top teams and individual runners in the nation Friday at the NCAA West Regional Championships at Haggin Oaks Golf Course in Sacramento. The women's 6,000-meter race will begin at 11:45 a.m. PT.
The meet, which is being hosted by Sacramento State, will feature student-athletes from 37 universities in California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. The Aztecs will be one of 33 teams expected to score at the meet, while four others - Cal State Northridge, Pacific, San José State and USC - will be competing as individuals.
The two-two teams from each of the nine NCAA regions automatically advance to the NCAA Championships with the final 13 schools being picked as at-large selections. Additionally, the top-four individuals from team's not advancing will qualify for the national meet.
At last year's NCAA West Regional meet, SDSU finished 25th out of 28 teams at the Jefferson Golf Course in Seattle. Laura Vazquez was the team's top placer, taking 105th in 21 minutes, 40 seconds over the 6K course. Other current San Diego State athletes who competed at last year's meet were Chelsea Kruthers (167th, 22:34), Jessica McCall (182nd, 23:00) and Rachel Roesgen (194th, 23:29).
The Aztecs are coming off a ninth-place showing at the Mountain West Championships on Nov. 1 at elevation in USAFA, Colo., near Colorado Springs. Kruthers led SDSU in 56th (23:50.92), followed by Roesgen (59th, 24:02.22), Elaine Ribeiro (60th, 24:02.74), Dynasty Gammage (64th, 24:12.43), Katy Smith (69th, 24:24.01), Melissa Wendorf (81st, 25:57.16) and Jessica Cygan (86th, 29:35.81).
Earlier this season (Oct. 4), SDSU competed at the same Haggin Oaks Oak Golf Course at the NCAA Inter-Regional Jamboree, taking 14th out of 19 schools. Kruthers was one of seven San Diego State runners who set a collegiate-best 5K time for the race, taking 42nd in 17:44.
Scheduled to run at this weekend's championship meet include Gammage, Kruthers, Ribeiro, Roesgen and Smith.
Box draws, a visitor's guide, directions and more can be found at the official host page. Results will first be posted at that site and later on GoAztecs.com.