Sept. 18, 2015
DI WOMEN | DI MEN | 
HIGHLIGHTS/INTERVIEWS | 
GALLERY: 1 | 2
SAN DIEGO - The San Diego State cross country team came out on top Friday morning after junior Elaine Ribeiro took first in the 5,000-meter race, helping the Aztecs also take the top spot as a team. Ribeiro's winning time was 18 minutes, 9.74 seconds (18:09.74).
"It (the race) went the way I wanted it to go," Ribeiro stated. "I was hoping to be top three or five within the first mile. Hitting the second mile, I really wanted to pick it up and run away from the pack and win the race, which I did today."
The win marks the second team title in the first three meets of the 2015 season in addition to the Aztecs' first win at the Aztec Invite since 1999. The Aztecs accumulated 41 points in the competitive race and finished ahead of second-place finisher USD with 46 points. Rounding out the meet was UNLV (59), USC (93) and Pepperdine (105).
Sophomore Lily Seynaeve wasn't far behind Ribeiro, clocking in at 18:29.23 which was good for fourth-place out of 52 runners.
"We all came into this race with a positive attitude," Seynaeve stated. "We've been on a roll this season. (We won) the race in Brea, Calif. and placed really well at UCR with one really great runner down. We came in today wanting to win and we carried that into the race."
SDSU sophomore Cassidy Towner (eighth) was the third Aztec to place within the top 10 at 18:51.12, while senior Grace Hanshaw, who did not compete in last week's race, was entered today and finished in 10th place at 19:09.41. Meanwhile, Cali King (18th, 19:29.57), Rachel Roesgen (20th, 19:33.54), Hannah Sawatzki (23rd, 19:40. 05) and Lily Mayko (32nd, 20:18.64) combined efforts to help the team achieve its victory.
"The team is doing well and everyone is really motivated," assistant cross country coach Karoly Varga stated. "Our goal is conference championship and beyond so the ladies are working really hard for that."
San Diego State returns to action on Saturday (Oct. 3) at the UNLV Invitational.
71st Annual Aztec Invitational
Mission Bay - Tecolote Shores North Park - San Diego, Calif.
September 18, 2015
5,000-Meter DI Women's Invitational Team Results
1. San Diego State -- 41
2. San Diego - 46
3. UNLV - 59
4. USC - 93
5. Pepperdine - 105
5,000-Meter Women's Invitational Individual Results (Top 5 of 52 runners + SDSU)
1. Elaine Ribeiro (SDSU) -- 18:09.74
2. Samantha Mattice (San Diego) -- 18:14.39
3. Katie Engel (Pepperdine) -- 18:25.26
4. Lily Seynaeve (SDSU) -- 18.29.23
5. Spencer Moore (Pepperdine) - 18:39.35
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8. Cassidy Towner (SDSU) -- 18:51.12
10. Grace Hanshaw (SDSU) -- 19:09.41
18. Cali King (SDSU) -- 19:29.57
20. Rachel Roesgen (SDSU) -- 19:33.54
23. Hannah Sawatzki (SDSU) -- 19:40.05
32. Lily Mayko (SDSU) -- 20:18.64