Aztecs Take Seventh at Riverside Invitational

RIVERSIDE, CALIF. – The San Diego State cross country team placed seventh out of 21 teams at the Riverside Invitational 6k Saturday morning.

"I'm proud of the team's effort today because several of them spent the past week fighting illness," Coach Robert Lusitana said. "Yet, when it came to race day, they stepped up as a group."

Caitlyn Couch (21:46.6) and Carlene Masar (21:47.0) were the top Aztecs runners, finishing in 41st an 42nd place (out of 170 runners) respectively.

The rest of the SDSU top five consisted of Renee Laurenzana (50th; 21:56.0), Paige Comiso (60th; 22:09.4) and Marissa D'Atri (67th; 22:16.2).

Alize Hartke, who was the first Aztec to finish in the first race of the season, crossed the finish line in 22:43.2, good for 96th place. Other SDSU finishers included Natalie Regalado (118th; 23:18.6), Isabelle Davis (133rd; 23:51.1) and Natalie Media (146th; 24:15.2).

UP NEXT
The Aztecs compete in the Capital Cross Challenge September 29 in Sacramento, Calif. at Haggin Oaks Golf Complex, the site of this year's NCAA West Region Championships.

THE NOTE I
All nine Aztecs runners were freshmen, meaning this was the first collegiate 6k for the entire team.

THE NOTE II
Four of the top five runners for the Aztecs were the same as the first race (Couch, Masar, Laurenzana and Comiso).

QUOTE OF THE MEET
"Once again, this all freshmen group,  ran and competed as a team. Led by Caitlyn Couch, Carlene Masar and Renee Laurenzana, the spread from our first to fifth girl was under 30 seconds." Coach Robert Lusitana

UC RIVERSIDE INVITATIONAL 6K
TEAM SCORES – TOP FIVE & SDSU (OUT OF 21)
1. Southern Utah – 31
2. Cal Baptist – 44
3. Utah Valley – 108
4. Sacramento State – 136
5. Azusa Pacific – 150
7. SAN DIEGO STATE – 225

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS – TOP FIVE & SDSU (OUT OF 170)
1. Angie Nickerson (SUU) - 20:00.6
2. Anett Somogyi (Cal Baptist) – 20:19.8
3. Madison Fruchey (SUU) – 20:26.2
4. Amy Quinones (Sac St.) – 20:32.5
5. Eileen Stressling (Azusa Pacific) – 20:35.9
41. Caitlyn Couch (SDSU) – 21:46.6
42. Carlene Masar (SDSU) – 21:47.0
50. Renee Laurenzana (SDSU) – 21:56.0
60. Paige Comiso (SDSU) – 22:09.4
67. Marissa D'Atri (SDSU) – 22:16.2
96. Alize Hartke (SDSU) – 22:43.2
118. Natalie Regalado (SDSU) – 23.18.6
133. Isabelle Davis (SDSU) – 23:51.1
146. Natalie Medina (SDSU) – 24:15.2