Cross Country

Cross Country to Compete at Minnesota, UCR this Weekend

Roy Griak Invitational Meet Info Opens in a new window Roy Griak Invitational Live Results Opens in a new window UCR Invitational Meet Info Opens in a new window UCR Invitational Live Results Opens in a new window
Cross Country to Compete at Minnesota, UCR this WeekendCross Country to Compete at Minnesota, UCR this Weekend

SAN DIEGO – San Diego State women’s cross country returns to action with two meets in two different time zones this weekend. Splitting the squad between the races, eight Aztecs will fly to Minnesota for the Roy Griak Invitaitonal on Friday while four will race at the UC Riverside Invitational on Saturday.

One of the premier early season races, nationally ranked No. 25 Utah Valley, nationally ranked No. 32* Colorado State and the host Midwest Region No. 4 Minnesota headline the Aztecs’ competition at the Griak Invite.
*Colorado State is receiving the second-most votes outside the USTFCCCA top 30.

Aztecs at Minnesota: Presley Bennett, Vanessa Cabello, Isabella Fauria, Lauren Harper, Maddie Heller, Eva Rethmeier, Emily Van Valkenburg, Samantha Wood

Aztecs at UCR: Melanie Falkowski, Sara Jones, Maddy Parrone, Tatum Zinkin

Last Time OutThe Aztecs began their season at the Mark Covert Classic in Fullerton, Calif. finishing second overall - of 13 teams - with 49 points.

  • Their team time of 1:30:22.7 is the fastest of SDSU’s eight races at the annual Cal State Fullerton meet. The previous program best was 1:32:37.7 set during the 2015 season.
  • Of their 10 runners, San Diego State placed three in the top ten and all five of their point scorers finished in the top 25.

    Individual Notes
  • Vanessa Cabello won the first meet of the year with an SDSU Carbon Canyon Regional Park course record and personal best 5k time of 17:47.1 crossing the line just under a second in front of the runner-up.
  • Samantha Wood (4th, 17:54.5) and Emily Van Valkenburg (6th, 17:58.9) gave the Aztecs three of the top six finishers in the race.
  • The meet saw three debuts with Presley Bennett and Van Valkenburg making their SDSU debuts while Sara Jones, the only freshman on the team, made her collegiate debut.
  • Overall, 10 of the 13 student-athletes on the roster raced in the season opening meet. Five of them set personal best 5k times for their careers.
  • This year’s roster is made up of eight returners, six of which ran at least one race last year, as well as two who joined track and field last winter, and three newcomers to The Mesa.