Sept. 15, 2015
SAN DIEGO -
AZTEC INVITE NOTES | MEET ENTRIES | MEET INFO | LIVE RESULTS
The San Diego State cross country team plays host to the 71st running of the Aztec Invitational on Saturday. The Invitational Men's 8K kicks off the meet at 8:30 a.m. PT, while the Aztecs will compete in the Women's 8K Invitational at 9:30 a.m. PT.
After another successful outing last week at the UC Riverside Invitational, the San Diego State cross country returns to America's Finest City to play host to the 71st running of the Aztec Invitational. The Invitational Men's 8K kicks off the meet at 8:30 a.m. PT, while the Aztecs will compete in the Women's 8K Invitational at 9:30 a.m. PT. The Southern California Junior College Cross Country Preview races follow at 11 a.m. PT, but are not a part of the Aztec Invitational.
For the second straight year, the Aztec Invitational will take place at San Diego Mission Bay's Tecolote Shores North Park. Last season, SDSU took second in the meet. The course was also the site of the 2008 and 2011 USA Cross Country Championships, as well as the 2008 Mountain West Championships. The official address is Mission Bay Tecolote Shores North Park, 1740 E Mission Bay Dr, San Diego, CA 92109.
The Aztec Invitational is one of the oldest continuous collegiate cross country meets in the United States. The first meet, which only included men's teams, was held on the San Diego State campus in 1944. As the campus grew, SDSU's home cross country course was moved to Balboa Park. In 2001, the meet was cancelled because of the 9/11 tragedy, so the 58th running was held in 2002. In past years, up to 75 universities, colleges and club teams have participated in a single meet. Elite distance women like Monica Joyce (SDSU, 1982; 1984 Olympics, Los Angeles), Lynn Kanuka (SDSU, 1982; 1984 Olympics, Los Angeles; 1988 Olympics, Seoul), Joan Hanson (Arizona, 1981, 1984 Olympics, Los Angeles), Shannon Rowbury (Duke, 2005; 2008 Olympics, Beijing; current U.S. 1,500 record holder) and her late teammate, Sally Meyerhoff (Duke, 2005) have run in the Aztec Invitational. On the men's side, distance greats like Billy Mills (San Diego Track Club 1967; 1964 Olympics, Tokyo), Tracy Smith (Athletes in Action, 1972 ; 1968 Olympics, Mexico City), Meb Keflezighi (UCLA, 1994, 1996; 2000, 2004 and 2012 Olympics) and Abdi Abdirahman (Arizona, 1998; 2012 Olympics) are also Aztec Invitational veterans.
The women's 5K course consists of two and half loops, almost entirely on grass in a park setting, occasionally crossing sidewalks. The men's 8K course consists of four complete loops along essentially the same course. Both race courses have 15 feet of total elevation differential during a single loop and are blessed with spectacular views of the bay and light ocean breezes.
On the women's side, the Aztecs will run against Pepperdine, San Diego, UNLV, USC, Cal State San Bernardino, Concordia Irvine, Point Loma, Sonoma State, UC San Diego, Western New Mexico, Marymount, San Diego Christian, Soka, St. Katherine College and Glendale CC.
Scheduled to compete on the men's side include Pepperdine, San Diego, Concordia Irvine, UC San Diego, Western New Mexico, Marymount, San Diego Christian, Soka, St. Katherine College, Glendale CC, South Bay Track Club and Nike Run LA.
San Diego State is coming off a fifth-place finish at the UC Riverside Invitational last week, led by junior Elaine Ribeiro, who came in 12th over the 6K course in 21 minutes, 5.3 seconds, the second-fastest 6K time in school history.
"Elaine Ribeiro had a nice race," assistant cross country coach Karoly Varga stated. "She ran with the lead pack for the first two miles at a pretty fast pace. Arkansas is one of the best teams in the country and Elaine was able to let the pack carry her to a 6k personal best by 37 seconds."
Following Ribeiro, sophomore Lily Seynaeve was the next Aztec runner to cross the finish line, clocking in at 21:30.8, which was good for 18th place.
"I felt that Lily Seynaeve had a very good run today," Varga stated. "She really impressed me with her toughness. I think she will keep improving as we get to the end of the season."
Ensuing Seynaeve was sophomore Cassidy Towner (22:10.9) and senior Rachel Roesgen (22:13:0) who placed 37th and 38th in the race that featured 110 runners.
The Red and Black was also represented by junior Cali King, who ended her first 6K race in 54th place at 22:32.5, while senior Lily Mayko finished in 70th with a time of 22:57.7.
Rounding out the Aztec contingent was senior Hannah Sawatzki, who took 89th after completing the course at 23:51.1, 11 seconds faster than last season's 6K time (24:02.4).
All seven runners will compete at the Aztec Invitational, as well as Grace Hanshaw, who missed last week's race with an illness.