All in all, it was a bit of a disappointing day for Westmont men’s and women’s cross country at the Biola Invitational. The women’s team finished seventh of nine teams while the men came in fourth out of eleven.
“The men missed an opportunity to show they are definitively the best team in the conference,” said Westmont head coach Russell Smelley.
Eighth-ranked Cal State San Marcos won the men’s 8,000 meter race with 72 points while #17 Simon Fraser came in second with 77 points. California Baptist finished third with an even 100 points, nine points ahead of the Warriors who are also ranked at number 17.
The Westmont men finished ahead of six other Golden State Athletic Conference teams including Vanguard in fifth place (112 points) and Azusa Pacific in sixth (126 points).
Jacob Goodin was Westmont’s top finished, taking sixth place in a time of 25:31.
“Jacob ran a strong even race,” said Smelley. “He moved up 40 places by running an even pace.”
Westmont’s Jake Jeanson finished in eleventh place with a time of 25:46. Nathan Kemp crossed the finish line fourteenth by running a time of 25:51.
The men’s race was won by Abednego Magut of Azusa Pacific in a time of 24:43.
The women’s 5,000 meter race was won by Azusa Pacific with 42 points. The Cougars’ Jacky Kipwambok was the first to cross the finish line in a time of 17:14
Cal State San Marcos finished in second with 55 points and Simon Fraser notched third place with a total of 60 points. The Warriors finished behind fourth place Biola (72 points), fifth place Point Loma Nazarene (144 points) and sixth place Vanguard (155 points).
“Our women’s team ran what they are capable of,” noted Smelley. “Kaela Hoch (20:02) had a very strong race to finish fifth for us.”
The Warriors top finisher was Chrissa Trudelle who claimed twenty-fourth place with a time of 18:41. Kate Stuart finished thirty-first in 18:59 while Danica Rosendale completed the course in 19:09 for thirty-sixth place.
In two weeks, the Warriors will travel to Fresno to participate in the Golden State Athletic Conference Championships.
“Our men’s team will need to win the GSAC Championship in order to go to nationals,” said Smelley. “They are capable of it and I am expecting them to win it. If our women are to go to nationals, they will need to significantly improve their performance.”
