Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
NCAA Championships
Strong Showing for Garcia at NCAAs
11/24/2008 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country
Nov. 24, 2008
Complete NCAA Men's Results in PDF Format 
Complete NCAA Women's Results in PDF Format
FRESNO, Calif. - In Fresno State's first appearance at the NCAA Cross Country Championships since 1980, sophomore Erick Garcia ran one of the top times in Bulldog history.
Garcia ran a 31:14.9 in the 10K race, filling in the No. 21 spot in the Fresno State all-time records the distance. The Parlier, Calif., native finished 150th of the 252 competitors in Terre Haute, Ind., Monday. Garcia broke the Fresno State record in the 10K at the NCAA West Regional, timing in at 29:40.85.
"Erick did a really good job for his first time there," said cross country coach Sean McManus. "To take 150 out of the best competitors in the country, even the world because it really is an international field, is really great."
Oregon's Galen Rupp won the individual title, clocking in at 29:03.2. The Ducks would also win the men's team title. Sally Kipyego of Texas Tech captured the women's individual title with a time of 19:28.1. Another Pac-10 team, Washington, won the team title for the women.
"There are 38 guys there running as individuals and the rest are running as a part of a team," said McManus. "It makes it hard to compete as an individual, especially after running as part of a team for so long."
Garcia, who has been one of the top finishers in nearly every race of his career, found racing at the NCAAs more challenging.
"It was different," said Garcia. "I'm used to running in the front; coming out here, it was hard having to run in the pack and work for your spot."
Although it wasn't the finish Garcia had hoped for, he sees this as an opportunity to grow as an individual racer and a team player.
"It was a great experience for next year," he said. "Hopefully, I can make the top 50 next year. I can use this experience to help both my team and my races."
McManus agreed.
"We're going to use this to propel him into next year," he said. "To finish where he did in such a difficult field as a sophomore shows how great Erick is and can be. It's a great experience that will pay dividends for both him and the team down the road."
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