FRESNO, CALIF. – San Diego State Cross Country is preparing to compete in the program's final Mountain West Championship race before the athletic departments move to the PAC-12 next season. The Aztec’s will be sending eight athletes up north in what will be the team’s fifth race of the season highlighted by the return of Vanessa Cabello and the continued development of a trio of freshmen. Cabello entered the season as the Aztec’s top returner from the 2024-2025 team. After a top 10 finish at the Aztec Coastal Classic in late August, Cabello has been sidelined due to injury. She makes her return to the starting line as the owner of the Aztec’s fifth fastest six-kilometer time in program history.
Alongside their veteran leader, a trio of freshmen will also be making their conference championship debut. Emilia Greenway has been the Aztec’s top newcomer having finished second among her teammates at both the UCR Invitational and Bill Dellinger Invitational earlier this year. She currently owns a six-kilometer personal best of 21:41.0 which she posted in late September. Greenway will be joined by fellow freshmen Elliana Lomeli and Emily Russo. Lomeli’s fastest performance on the year also came in late September, crossing the six-kilometer finish line at the UCR Invitational in a final time of 22:21.8. Meanwhile, Russo had her best outing of the year more recently finishing the Highlander Invite in 22:13.5 on October 18th.
The rest of the Aztecs lineup will include Sara Jones, Rebekah Niednagel, Emily Van Valkenburg and Samantha Wood.
Individual Notes
- Sara Jones ran 23:49.5 at the 2024 Mountain West Championship meet. That is the fastest returning time to the 2025 lineup.
- Emily Van Valkenburg owns the fastest six-kilometer time in the 2025 season, running 21:11.0 at the UCR Invitational.
- The Aztecs only return one athlete who raced at the 2024 Mountain West Championship (Sara Jones). Greenway, Lomeli, Russo and Niednagel will all compete at their first NCAA Division I conference championship.