RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Cal State Fullerton cross country competed at the UC Riverside Invitational on Saturday morning and the men's team took fourth place overall in the 8,000-meter invitational race while the women's team earned a 10th-place finish in the 6,000-meter invitational race.
The men's squad tallied 222 points in fourth place overall with junior Samuel Pimentel leading the way in 32nd place with a time of 24:50.1. Southern Utah won the competition with 30 points. The Titans also finished first among Big West competitors.
The women's 6K invitational was the first race of the morning and the Titans took 10th place (264 points) as a team with freshman Wendi Leos leading the way in 14th place with a time of 20:31.3. Arkansas won the competition with a team score of 36 points. The Titans finished third among Big West opponents as UC Santa Barbara took fifth place with 202 points and UC Riverside finished ninth with 237 points.
"It was another good day overall and it gives us a lot of optimism about where we're at," said head coach John Elders. "This was our hardest training week of the season so far and we really pushed the student-athletes so It was a good, productive week."
The men's squad earned a 4th-place finish! Sam Pimentel led the way again, taking 32nd place w/ an 8K time of 24:50.1. #TusksUp pic.twitter.com/Z67J3Vvaqs
— Titan Track & Field (@FullertonTFXC) September 16, 2017
Pimentel has been the first Titan on the men's side to cross the finish line in both races this season. Senior Joe Casco was the second Titan to finish the 8,000-meter race, posting a time of 24:59.9 that was good for 43rd place. Freshman Jacob Smith ran the race in 25:12.1 and finished in 56th place overall. Junior Joshua Silva's time of 25:13.9 was good for 58th place overall while sophomore Jorge Sanchez took 60th place in 25:15.9.
"It's been a long time since we beat Santa Barbara, in any meet, so that's pretty special," Elders said. "The thing about the men's race that was a positive sign, is that we went out pretty conservative and then just moved up throughout the race and finished really strong. We had five guys run well but a couple of our top guys aren't in peak fitness yet so I feel like as the weeks go by we will just get better and better."
The women's team took 10th place in the 6K w/ Wendi Leos (14th, 20:31.3) & Sam Huerta (30th, 20:55.6) leading the way for CSF. #TusksUp pic.twitter.com/swOVQUQZCA
— Titan Track & Field (@FullertonTFXC) September 16, 2017
Like Pimentel, Leos was the first Titan finisher for the second straight race this season. Behind her was sophomore Sam Huerta in 31st place, clocking a time of 20:55.6. Freshman Trinity Ruelas' time of 21:48.5 was good for 77th place. Sophomore Sandra Flores clocked a time of 21:50.7 in 79th place and junior Jessica Ruiz was just behind her in 80th place with a time of 21:50.0.
"I wouldn't say it was our best day," Elders said. "We had too big of a gap between our second runner and the rest of the pack. Wendi crushed it, I believe she was the top freshman finisher in the meet and she finished behind a bunch of elite competitors. She is running at a really high level right now. If we can just get a few girls to step up and close that gap then we'll be a lot stronger."
Next up for the Titans is the Capitol Cross Challenge in Sacramento on Saturday, September 30.
PHOTO GALLERIES
Women's 6k Invitational
Men's 8k Invitational
Women's 5k Open
Men's 8k Open
Awards Presentation
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