Meet Week Preview
Dave Murray Invitational (6k)
Saturday, Oct. 1 | 7 a.m. PT | Tucson, Ariz. | Rolling Hills Golf Club
Media Coverage: Live Results (Finished Results)
SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State cross country team will be competing at the University of Arizona's Dave Murray Invitational (6k) Friday morning at the Rolling Hills Golf Club.
The Aztecs will have Emily Burd, Amber Elias, Lauren Harper, Jessica Kain, Alex Lomeli, Taylor Lustyan, Carlene Masar, Nicole Meyer and Naomi Smitham running. Aside from Alex Lomeli, it will be the first race for these Aztecs since the Stump Invitational on Sept. 10. In that race, six Aztecs set new personal best times in the 6k.
SDSU will be competing against runners from Arizona, Arizona State, Grand Canyon and New Mexico State.
The race is at 7 a.m. PT so temperatures should still be moderate. The forecast calls for clear skies and temperatures in the low 60's and minimal wind.
The race is being run at Rolling Hills Golf Club and will be three 2k loops on grass.
Coach Lusitana's Take on the Dave Murray Invitational
"The team has put in three quality weeks of training since the Stump Invitational race. They are looking forward to this race to gauge how they are progressing towards their season's goals.
They are prepared for a very competitive race against a field which includes ranked Arizona, the 15th-ranked team in the western region, as well as the Pac 12's Arizona State, New Mexico State and a young talented GCU squad. This will be a great opportunity for the team to gain some important race experience against good competition."
Aztec Storylines
• Four Aztecs ran in the USD Invitational (6k) last Friday. Alex Lomeli placed 13th out of 139 runners with a career best time of 21:42.5. Paige Comiso (23:55.3), Natalie Regalado (24:07.9) and Isabelle Davis (25:20.6) also competed. It was Davis' season debut.
• Lomeli paced the Aztecs at both the USD Invitational (Sept. 17) and Cougar Challenge (Sept. 24).
• Jessica Kain has been the top Aztec finisher in the last four races she's run in.
• Kain, Carlene Masar, Emily Burd, Lauren Harper, Amber Elias and Naomi Smitham all recorded career-best 6k times at the Stump Invitational on Sept. 10.
• Carlene Masar has finished in the top two among Aztecs in every race she's run.
• Jessica Kain broke out during the 2021 outdoor track season. She became the first Aztec to qualify for the NCAA West Regionals in the 1,500m and her PR of 4:21.87 was the fastest time by an SDSU runner since 1982.
• SDSU made a tweak to their schedule, and they will now be competing at the University of Arizona's Dave Murray Invitational October 1.
• The Aztecs competed in just two races in the shortened 2020 season (that occurred in the winter of 2021), both of which took place at Craig Ranch Regional Park in Las Vegas.
Last Time Out
The Aztec cross country team had four runners competing in Cal State San Marcos' Cougar Challenge last Saturday morning and were led by Alex Lomeli's career-best 6k time of 21:42.5.
Lomeli finished in 13th place out of 139 runners and beat her previous best 6k time by over 30 seconds. This was Lomeli's second straight race posting the top time among Aztec runners.
Paige Comiso finished in 23:55.3 (79th place) and was followed by Natalie Regalado (24:07.9, 84th place).
Isabelle Davis made her 2021 debut and clocked in at 25:20.6 (117th place).
Since SDSU only had four runners, they didn't qualify for a team score.
Aztecs at Dave Murray Invite Friday Morning
