Oct. 15, 2016
RIVERSIDE, Calif. -
An impressive performance by the team's upperclassmen in its final race of the regular season helped the San Diego State cross country team to a win at the Highlander Invitational 5K Saturday morning.
The Aztecs won its second race of the year (72nd Annual Aztec Invitational, Sept. 23) with 46 points, beating out Cal State Fullerton (54), UC Riverside (79), UC Irvine (91), USC (103), Cal State Northridge (155) and Long Beach State (180).
"This win was very important before conference," San Diego State cross country assistant coach Karoly Varga said. "It shows that we are on the right track and are in really good shape. We beat some good teams today and it was a confidence booster for everyone."
Christine Kent raced to the eighth-best time in San Diego State cross country history with her second-place finish. The senior from San Diego finished just :01.45 second out of the top spot, earned by Faith Makau of the host UC Riverside (17:06.14).
Classmate Angel Bucci bested her own PR by 1:06, finishing the race in 17:42.73 for seventh.
"This meet really contributed to the overall confidence and trust we've been building in each other through our workouts," Bucci said. "Packing up and running together is incredibly important for the conference meet at the end of the month and we're really starting to see that come together."
Junior Lily Seynaeve also recorded a PR, logging a 17:45.16 time for eighth (previous PR was 18:14.5).
Elaine Ribeiro posted an 18:02.93 mark for 14th, followed closely by Cassidy Towner in 15th (18:05.3). Cali King (18:43.72, 35th) and Cindy Flores (18:49.52, 40th) rounded out the Aztecs' finishers.
Next up for the Scarlet and Black is the Mountain West Championship (6K), hosted by Boise State. The Championship meet will be held on Oct. 28 at Falcon Crest Golf Club in Kuna, Idaho. Said Varga, "Our main goal is to stay healthy in the next two weeks so we can surprise some teams at conference."
Highlander Invitational 5K
UCR Ag Ops Course - Riverside, Calif.
October 15, 2016
Women's 5K Run Team Results
1. San Diego State - 46
2. Cal State Fullerton - 54
3. UC Riverside - 79
4. UC Irvine - 91
5. USC - 103
6. Cal State Northridge - 155
7. Long Beach State - 180
Women's 5K Run Individual Results (Top 5 of 66 runners + SDSU)
1. Faith Makau (UCR) - 17:06.14
2. Christine Kent (SDSU) - 17:07.59
3. Weslie Totten (UCR) - 17:20.01
4. Sophia Racette (USC) - 17:27.93
5. Rachel Naumann (Cal State Northridge) - 17:39.70)
--
7. Angel Bucci (SDSU) - 17:42.73
8. Lily Seynaeve (SDSU) - 17:45.16
14. Elaine Ribeiro (SDSU) - 18:02.93
15. Cassidy Towner (SDSU) - 18:05.30
35. Cali King (SDSU) - 18:43.72
40. Cindy Flores (SDSU) - 18:49.52