NIPOMO, Calif. – The San Diego State cross country team kicked off their season on the central coast, competing in the Big West Preview hosted by Cal Poly. Overall, the team finished sixth among the 10 teams racing led by Jessica Kain's third place finish.
Kain led the way for the Aztecs with a time of 17:45.9 en route to her top three effort. She led the pack of 105 runners for the first three kilometers of the race before a pair of UC Riverside athletes passed her in the final stretch. The graduate student ended up just 10 seconds behind the race-winner.
Making her San Diego State debut, Eva Rethmeier was impressive with a time of 18:15.12 finishing just outside the top ten in 11th. The time marks a new personal best for the Cal State Fullerton transfer. Maddie Heller also set a new personal best at 19:05.1 as the third Aztec to cross the line.
The duo of Amber Elias and Sophia Connerton-Nevin finished back-to-back inside the top 50. They posted times of 19:21.3 and 19:25.0, respectively. Maddy Parrone (19:50.0) and Bailey Watts (20:01.0) rounded out the scoring for the Aztecs.
Host Cal Poly won the team standings with a score of 39 while UCR's Linda Perez won individually with a time of 17:35.5.
Up Next: San Diego State's next cross country meet will be on Saturday, Sep. 16 at the UC Riverside Invitational.
Individual Standings
1. Linda Perez (UCR) - 17:35.5
2. Collette Lowengrub (UCR) - 17:38.2
3. Jessica Kain (SDSU) – 17:45.9
11. Eva Rethmeier (SDSU) – 18:15.2 (PR; SDSU debut)
39. Maddie Heller (SDSU) – 19:05.1 (PR)
47. Amber Elias (SDSU) – 19:21.3
48. Sophia Connerton-Nevin (SDSU) – 19:25.0 (PR; collegiate debut)
63. Maddy Parrone (SDSU) – 19:50.0
71. Bailey Watts (SDSU) – 20:01.0
72. Bella Peretti (SDSU) – 20:04.0
81. Tatum Zinkin (SDSU) – 20:38.8
Team Standings
1. Cal Poly – 39 points
2. UC Riverside – 67 points
3. Long Beach State – 84 points
4. UC Santa Barbara – 105 points
5. UC Irvine – 107 points
6. San Diego State – 133 points
7. UC Davis – 162 points
8. CSUN – 248 points
9. CSU Monterey Bay – 258 points
10. Westmont College – 322 points
Jessica Kain Leads Aztecs in Season Opening Meet
