Cross Country

Cross Country Heads to Riverside to Race in the Highlander Invitational

The Aztecs will travel to UC Riverside to race in the Highlander Invitational for the sixth consecutive season.

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Cross Country Heads to Riverside to Race in the Highlander InvitationalCross Country Heads to Riverside to Race in the Highlander Invitational

RIVERSIDE, CALIF. – San Diego State Cross Country will be back in southern California racing at the annual Highlander Invitational hosted by UC Riverside on Saturday, October 17. This weekend will mark the sixth consecutive year that the Aztecs have competed at this meet. Last season SDSU sent three athletes including sophomores Emily Russo and Alexis Wolfinger to the Highlander Invitational. Russo completed the six-kilometer course in 22:13.5 while Wolfinger was not far behind with a time of 22:28.3. In 2024 San Diego State won the Highlander Invitational giving the Aztecs their first victory in a six-kilometer race in program history.

SDSU will face a large field of over 25 college programs ranging from NCAA Division I, II and III institutions as well as NAIA and junior college teams. The highlight of the weekend will be the Aztecs racing against two of the top 15 ranked teams in the NCAA West Region according to the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. California Baptist currently ranks 10th while UC Irvine sits at 13th place in the region. The Aztecs will also compete against UC Santa Barbara, UC San Diego, USC, Grand Canyon and more. The race will be set to begin at 8:40 a.m. PT. Freshmen Ariella Llorens, Olivia Campos and Rickelle Bush will join sophomores Emilia Greenway and Emily Russo giving the Aztecs five total competitors.

Last Time Out

  • San Diego State last competed on Oct. 9 at the Bill Dellinger Invitational in Springfield, Oregon. Eight athletes saw action as the Aztecs secured a ninth-place team finish. Three Aztecs finished in the top 45 out of a field of over 109 runners.
  • Freshman Skylar Watts was once again the top Aztec running 21:30.2 in her first ever official six-kilometer race.
  • Senior Isabella Frisone rallied across the final kilometer of the race, improving 12 spots to finish in 38th place with a time of 21:39.1
  • Sophomore Elliana Lomeli also had a strong kick moving up nine spots over the final two kilometers. She finished in 42nd place with a time of 21:45.7.

Individual Notes

  • Ariella Llorens is primed to return to action after missing the past two meets due to injury. Llorens led the Aztecs to a win at the Aztec Coastal Classic running 16:55.0 in the 5k.
  • Emily Russo returns to the Highlander Invitational after running 22:13.5 as a freshman on the same course during her freshman year in 2025.