SAN DIEGO -- San Diego State Cross Country is primed to return to race day action after almost a month since the Aztec Coastal Classic. The Aztecs will compete at the UC Riverside Invitational for the second consecutive season. In 2024 the Aztecs were led by Sara Jones, who secured a sixth-place finish in the Women’s Open 5k last year. Madison Parrone also raced in the 5k finishing with a time of 18:50.09. The 2025 race will mark the first time the Aztecs have sent a full roster to the UCR Invitational since 2022.
Last Time Out
- The Aztecs claimed third place at the Aztec Coastal Classic 5k on August 29, 2025. Vanessa Cabello was the team’s top finisher with a ninth-place finish to go along with a final time of 18.24.2.
- Samantha Wood (18:45.9), Emily Russo (18:52.6) and Emily Van Valkenburg (18:57.2) all broke the 19-minute barrier.
- The teams posted a team time of 1:34:05.
Individual Notes
- Five Aztecs made their collegiate debuts at the Aztec Coastal Classic. Emily Russo (18:52.6), Elliana Lomeli (19:15.2), Emilia Greenway (19:26.0), Ginger Oberg (19:48.5) and Alexis Wolfinger (19:54.9).
- Transfer Rebekah Niednagel made her SDSU debut at the Aztec Coastal Classic running 19:23.9.
- Sara Jones was the Aztec’s top performer at the 2024 UCR Invitational. She took sixth place with a finishing time of 17:53.1. Her performance earned her Mountain West Freshman of the Week honors.
- The last time the Aztecs sent a full team to the UCR Invitational was the 2022 season. Assistant coach Jessica Kain was the Aztecs top finisher with a 17th-place finish. Vanessa Cabello finished the six-kilometer course with a time of 21:22.6 in what was her second collegiate race.