Part of the course for the SBCC Invitational is on the sand at Leadbetter Beach.
SBCC?s Ian Roberts surged past Christoph Uphues of Mt. San Antonio with 150 meters to go on Friday and pulled away to capture the individual title in the SBCC Invitational cross country race at Shoreline Park.
Vaquero sophomore Ian Robers took first place at the SBCC Invitational cross country race.
Roberts, a sophomore from Ventura High, covered the 4-mile course in 22:25, five seconds ahead of Uphues. The third-place runner finished 32 seconds behind the top duo in a field of 101.
Roberts had placed second and third in his previous two races. He?s the first SBCC runner (male or female) to win the SBCC Invitational in Scott Fickerson?s six seasons as head coach.
Mt. SAC won the 11-team men?s race with 23 points, followed by Cuesta (74), SBCC (80) and Canyons (110).
Alex Heuchert took 14th for the Vaqueros in 23:34, Martin Montes was 17th in 23:47 and Zeph Alva was 22nd in 24:00. The times were a little slower than usual due to the start in the sand on Leadbetter Beach and the fact that it was a high-tide day.
Katie Huntington took ninth in the 5K women?s race in 22:32 and three teammates placed in the top 17. Alexa Sanchez was 11th (22:45), Nicole Bartlett was 14th (22:50) and Mia Owens was 17th (22:56).
?Our women ran in a pack and ran a very smart race,? said Fickerson.
The Vaqueros finished second out of nine teams with 87 points, edging out third-place Cuesta (94). Mt. SAC, led by women?s champion Nichelle Jackson (21:26), took the team title with 30 points. SBCC posted the best finish out of six WSC squads.
The Vaqueros will compete in the WSC Championships on Thursday, Oct. 24 at Oxnard College.
SBCC Invitational
At Leadbetter Beach & Shoreline Park
Men
Team (11 teams) — 1, Mt. SAC 23. 2, Cuesta 74. 3, SBCC 80. 4, Canyons 110. 5, Santa Monica 141. 6, L.A. Valley 149.
Individual (4 miles, 101 runners) — 1, Ian Roberts, SBCC, 22:24.
SBCC finishers — 1, Roberts 22:24. 14, Alex Heuchert 23:34. 17, Martin Montes 23:47. 22, Zeph Alva 24:00. 29, Brian Santiago 24:36. 44, Andy Hernandez 25:27. 63, Octavio Magdaleno 26:37. 71, Blake Hardnett 27:12.
Women
Team (9 schools) — 1, Mt. SAC 30. 2, SBCC 87. 3, Cuesta 94. 4, Bakersfield 97. 5, Canyons 101. 6, L.A. Valley 155.
Individual (5K, 89 runners) — 1, Nichelle Jackson 21:26.
SBCC finishers — 9, Katie Huntington 22:32. 11, Alexa Sanchez 22:45. 14, Nicole Bartlett 22:50. 17, Mia Owens 22:56. 37, Dana Grevenkamp 24:21. 60, Leah Ball 26:29. 73, Alethea Davies 27:31. 77, Rachel Zook 29:37.
