Cecilia Instebo took second and Emily Bernath placed fifth on Friday as the SBCC women’s cross country team captured the Bakersfield Invitational in 94-degree heat.
Instebo ran 19:49 on the 5K course, finishing 15 seconds behind the winner, Emma Ramirez of Antelope Valley. Bernath was clocked in 20:07. Nicole Bartlett took 11th for the Vaqueros, Sara Smith was 16th and Dean Roell 17th in the 55-woman field.
“We won the last time we were here in 2009, so this feels great,” said coach Scott Fickerson. “This is the first time Sara and Dean ran for us and they really helped.”
The Vaqueros topped the seven-team field with 51 points. Southwestern was second at 72 and Antelope Valley third with 76.
In the men’s 4-mile race, the Vaqueros placed second with 49 points, just three behind Southwestern in the five-team field. Freshman Ian Roberts was second in 21:53 and teammate Omar Padilla took third in 22:19.
Marcial Ordaz, a sophomore from Santa Ynez High, was ninth in 23:08. Jamison Leighton was 15th in the 46-man field.
“We used a more aggressive strategy and it paid off up front,” said Fickerson.
The Vaqueros will run in the WSC Preview on Oct. 5 at Kenneth Hahn Park in Los Angeles.
Bakersfield Invitational Results
Women (5K)
Team (5 schools) — 1, SBCC 51. 2, Southwestern 72. 3, Antelope Valley 76.
Individual — 1, Emma Ramirez, AV, 19:34. 2, Cecilia Instebo, SBCC, 19:49. 5, Emily Bernath, SBCC, 20:07. Other SBCC results — 11, Nicole Bartlett 21:33. 16, Sara Smith 22:14. 17, Dean Roell 22:23. 34, Mia Owens 24:25. 36, Sara Gonzalez 24:42.
Men (4 miles)
Team (7 schools) — 1, Southwestern 49. 2, SBCC 52.
Individual — 1, Alex Ruther, Canyons, 21:19. 2, Ian Roberts, SBCC, 21:53. 3, Omar Padilla, SBCC, 22:19. Other SBCC results — 9, Marcial Ordaz 23:08. 15, Jamison Leighton 23:59. 24, Nery Gonzalez 24:51. 41, Kenny Drake 29:56. 42, Roy Coronado 30:05.
