SAN DIEGO -- San Diego State Cross Country returned to race day action after almost a month-long hiatus. Nine Aztecs competed at the annual UC Riverside Invitational with senior Emily Van Valkenberg leading the way as the top performer for SDSU. Van Valkenberg was joined by the team's five freshmen, transfer Rebekah Niednagel and fellow senior Madison Parrone. Presley Bennett also made her season debut after not seeing action at the Aztec Coastal Classic in late August.
Van Valkenburg led all of San Diego State’s runners finishing the six-kilometer course in a final time of 21:11.0 good for final splits of 5:41 per mile. Freshman Emilia Greenway was both the Aztecs top newcomer and the team’s second finisher. Greenway posted a final time of 21:41.0. Fellow freshmen Ginger Oberg and Elliana Lomeli highlighted their performances with strong closing kicks. Oberg was able to move up three spots during the final two kilometers of the race and maintained a steady 5:58 per mile pace. Lomeli was dynamic over the last two kilometers, moving up 15 spots thanks to a late surge to the finish line.
Next Up: The Aztecs will enjoy close to two weeks of training before their next race. In early October the team will make their longest trip of the season to Springfield, Oregon to compete in the Bill Dellinger Invitational hosted by the University of Oregon. The Aztecs competed at the 2024 rendition of the Bill Dellinger Invitational and were led by the trio of Vanessa Cabello, Emily Van Valkenburg and Samantha Wood who all finished within eight places of one another and posted sub-21:35 marks for the six-kilometer course.
Individual Results
- Emily Van Valkenberg – 21:11.0
- Emilia Greenway – 21:41.0
- Rebekah Niednagel – 21:59.5
- Ginger Oberg – 22:13.0
- Emily Russo – 22:20.9
- Elliana Lomeli – 22:21.8
- Presley Bennett – 22:24.8
- Alexis Wolfinger – 22.28.9
- Madison Parrone – 22:50.3