Oct. 28, 2016
KUNA, Idaho -
San Diego State finished with its third-best Mountain West Cross Country Championship 6K team time in 17 years en route to a ninth-place finish at the Mountain West Championships hosted by Boise State today.
For the second-straight year, the Aztecs were ninth at the conference meet, held at Falcon Crest Golf Club in Kuna, Idaho. Their 1:53:09.8 team time was their 15th lowest since 2001 and third best this season. The time was also a 17:01.3 improvement from last season (2:10:11.1).
The Scarlet and Black finished with 261 points ahead of Fresno State (276) and UNLV (309). New Mexico won the meet for the second-straight season with 42 points and a total team time of 1:43:18.10. Air Force's 53 points was good for second. Boise State (86), Colorado State (103) and Wyoming (123) rounded out the top five. Utah State was sixth with 148 points, ahead of Nevada (193) and San José State (224).
"We had hoped to finish in the top seven this year and fell a bit short," San Diego State head coach Shelia Burrell said. "I have had the team focus on the NCAA West Regional since the beginning of the season, and we'll be looking to sharpen everyone to finish the season with their best competitive effort in Sacramento."
Senior Christine Kent was the Aztecs' top finisher at the race, running the course in 21:40.60 for 34th place. Earning a season-best time was junior Lily Seynaeve, who finished 50th with a 22:10.40 time. Senior Elaine Ribeiro was 65th with her 22:39.10 time, while Cassidy Towner's 22:55.70 time was 70th. Angel Bucci (78th, 23:44.00) and Cali King (79th, 23:46.80) were the team's No. 5 and 6 runners.
Alice Wright (20:02.70) and Calli Thackery (20:11.30) from New Mexico finished the race 1-2. Wright was named the league's Women's Athlete of the Year, while Boise State's Clare O'Brien was the Women's Freshman of the Year and Ryan Cole from Air Force was named the Mountain West Women's Coach of the Year.
Next up, San Diego State will compete at the NCAA West Regional (6K) in Sacramento, Calif., on Nov. 11. The race is set to begin at 11 a.m.
2016 Mountain West Championships
Falcon Crest Golf Club - Kuna, Idaho
October 28, 2016
6,000-Meter Women's Team Results
1. No. 1 New Mexico - 42
2. Air Force - 53
3. Boise State - 86
4. Colorado State - 103
5. Wyoming - 123
6. Utah State - 148
7. Nevada - 193
8. San José State - 224
9. San Diego State - 261
10. UNLV - 276
11. Fresno State - 309
6,000-Meter Women's Individual Results (Top 5 of 88 runners + SDSU)
1. Alice Wright (New Mexico) - 20:02.70
2. Calli Thackery (New Mexico) - 20:11.30
3. Gillespie Carina (Air Force) - 20:17.90
4. Brenna Peloquin (Boise State) - 20:27.40
5. Lindy Long (Air Force) - 20:34.10
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34. Christine Kent - 21:40.60
50. Lily Seynaeve - 22:10.40
65. Elaine Ribeiro - 22:39.10
70. Cassidy Towner - 22:55.70
78. Angel Bucci - 23:44.00
79. Cali King - 23:46.80