Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Indiana State Pre-National Invitational
'Dogs Run Strong in Indiana and Santa Clara
10/18/2014 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country
By: Dayna Hill
daynah@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno State men's and women's cross country teams competed at both the Pre National Invitational and the Bronco Invitational on Saturday and came away with 19th and 13th-place finishes.
In their biggest invitational of the regular season Saturday, the Pre-NCAA Invitational, the Fresno State men's and women's cross country teams competed against the most competitive field this season. The evenly-split men's and women's `white' and `blue' elite races were held on the LaVern Gibson Championship Course and hosted by Indiana State University.
The Fresno State women scored a total of 412 points with their top finisher, junior Annemarie Schwanz, finishing third in the 6K `white' race (6K, 21:36). Washington State won the women's `white' race by 39 points scoring a total of 143 points. Southern Illinois was the runner up finishing with 182 points followed by Iowa who earned a final score of 246 points. The women's team beat conference foe Air Force, who finished with a total of 428 points.
The `Dogs were led for the fourth straight meet this fall by Schwanz (3rd, 21:36), who ran the 11th-fastest time on the Bulldogs' all-time list. Freshman Mackenzie Landa followed in 36th place (22:33), behind her was junior Julianne Jacques (88th, 23:21). The final two scorers for the Bulldogs were redshirt-senior Carina Mendoza (99th, 23:25) and senior Lyndsie Etherton (186th, 25:04).
The Bulldog men also competed in the `white' race finished in 19th place, scoring a total of 442 points in the Pre National Invitational 8K. The Bulldogs were led by junior Chriss Grimble who placed 54th with a time of 26:02. Indiana won the men's `white race with 164 points. Beating Drake University followed with 170 points followed by Loyola (Illinois) who finished in third-place.
In the men's race, senior Chriss Grimble (52nd, 26:02) and sophomore Matt Kwiatkowski (66th, 26:14) were again in a close pack finishig 12 seconds apart. The front pack was followed by the final scoring three, freshman Efren Reyes (106th, 26:38) and sophomores Nathan Esparza (107th, 26:38) and Uriel Cabanas (123rd, 26:53). Freshmen Joel Gonzalez (144th, 27:12) completed the Bulldog entries.
In Santa Clara the Fresno State women ran in the Open Division 6K of the Bronco Invitational. The `Dogs placed 13th, scoring 294 points, led by sophomore Brittany Laygo who finished 41st, with a time of 23:51. She was followed by senior Meagan Paracholski (71st, 24:25) and sophomore Taylor Samson (77th, 24:40). The remaining two scorers for the `Dogs was senior Kelly Duffy (107th, 25:45) and junior Marla Acosta (183rd, 32:05). The remaining Bulldog competitors ran in a pack with Acosta finishing four seconds behind, junior Caroline Weaver (184th, 32:06) and sophomore Samantha Una'Dia (184th, 32:09).
The Bulldog men sent two harriers to the Bronco Invitational and they competed in the Open Division 8K. Freshman Esteban Vega finished 63rd with a time of 26:46, followed by sophomore Cooper Gill (123rd, 28:02).
In two weeks the `Dogs will be hosting the Mountain West Championships on Friday October 31st at Woodward Park.
"Be Bold!" - Come out and support the 'Dogs as they host the Mountain West Cross Country Championships on Friday, October 31st at Woodward Park.
Players Mentioned
