RIVERSIDE, CALIF. – San Diego State Cross Country competed at their final regular season meet of the season at the Highlander Invitational hosted by UC Riverside. This was the sixth consecutive appearance at the Highlander Invite by the Aztecs with this outing highlighted by the return of standout freshman Ariella Llorens. Llorens had not competed since the season opener at the five-kilometer Aztec Coastal Classic where she led the Aztecs to a team victory behind a second-place finish and time of 16:55.0. In her return to racing Llorens earned a fourth-place finish in a field of over 220 athletes running a six-kilometer career best of 20:21.2. Llorens’ final time was the fastest six-kilometer time by an Aztec since Jessica Kain’s 19:58.3 performance at the 2023 Highlander Invitational and is the second fastest six-kilometer performance by an Aztec since the women’s races moved to a six-kilometer distance.
The second fastest Aztec on the day was sophomore Emilia Greenway. Greenway finished with a time of 21:49.3. Greenway finished strong over the final two kilometers of the race moving up 23 places to crack the top 80. Fellow sophomore Emily Russo put together a new career best in the six-kilometer with a time of 21:57.5, a 16 second improvement on her previous personal best.
Rounding out the Aztecs lineup was the freshmen duo of Rickelle Bush and Olivia Campos. Bush put together her most complete race of the season finishing with a personal best of 22:08.5. Campos joins the other two Aztec freshmen with a career best race finishing with a time of 22:27.0.
The regular season has officially concluded for SDSU Cross Country. The team now turns its attention to the inaugural Pac-12 championship in Boise, Idaho. The meet is set for October 30 at the Warm Springs Golf Course. The Aztecs will enjoy two weeks of recovery and training before heading to Boise.
Individual Results
4. Ariella Llorens – 20:21.2 (PR, 2nd Fastest 6k in Program History)
79. Emilia Greenway – 21:49.3
94. Emily Russo – 21:57.5 (PR)
108. Rickelle Bush – 22:08.5 (PR)
124. Olivia Campos – 22:27.0 (PR)