Results

SANTA ROSA, Calif. – The Cal State East Bay cross country teams became the first Pioneer squads to compete for a CCAA Championship on Saturday, as they took on the rest of the conference at the championship meet at Spring Lake Regional Park in Santa Rosa. The Pioneer women claimed ninth place, while the men finished eighth in their first attempt at a conference title.

“Today was an important step for us as a program and somewhat historic being the first team from East Bay to score at the CCAA championships,” Head Coach Ralph Jones said. “To have three women run lifetime bests at the conference meet in one of the toughest distance conferences in the country is a significant accomplishment as we are trying to build a strong foundation for the future. I am extremely proud of all my student athletes as they have really stepped up all year long to improve and represent me, my staff and the university well.”

The women were led by an impressive run from freshman Kaitlyn Smith, who took more than 25 seconds off her previous personal best, crossing the line in 23:01.4. Smith finished 41st in a field of over 100 runners and helped East Bay claim victory over Cal State Monterey Bay, Sonoma State and Cal State Dominguez Hills. Junior Amanda McNabb was just behind Smith, finishing 43rd and taking 17 seconds off her previous personal best with a time of 23:03.0.

Sophomore Tiffany Duffy was the third Pioneer to come through the finish, taking 51st and posting a time of 23:17.9. Senior Gabriella Cruz, running in her third and final CCAA Championship race, joined Smith and McNabb with another new personal record. Cruz placed 53rd with a time of 23:23.6, knocking nearly a minute off her previous best.

“I was most impressed with the performances of freshman Kaitlyn Smith, Amanda McNabb and Gabriella Cruz,” Jones said. “Katy finished as our #1 runner today and ran the fastest time of any East Bay runner all year As a true freshman, stepped up and ran a personal record. Amanda Mcnabb also ran her best race of the year and really came through for us.

“My hat goes off to Gabriella Cruz, who is undoubtedly the most improved this year, and finished her senior campaign off in grand fashion, running a lifetime best and breaking 24 minutes for the first time in her running career!”

Juniors Megan McDaniel and Nastassia Hamor rounded out the East Bay contingent in 76th and 82nd, respectively. McDaniel came across in 24:26.5, while Hamor posted a time of 25:00.9.

Chico State captured its fourth consecutive championship and eighth title in 10 years, finishing 61 points ahead of second-place Cal Poly Pomona. The Broncos edged Cal State LA by two points and UC San Diego and Cal State Stanislaus rounded out the top five in fourth and fifth place, respectively.

The Wildcats placed three runners in the top 10 including Alia Gray, who took the individual title and CCAA Runner of the Year honors. San Francisco State's Zuleima Jimenez finished fourth overall to take Newcomer of the Year honors, while Chico State's Tiffany Heflin's 12th-place showing was good enough to claim Freshman of the Year accolades.

The Cal State East Bay men were led by Chris Gallagher, who finished 49th in a field of 70 runners, clocking a time of 28:06.2. Erik Rodriguez came in with a time of 28:49.0 to place 58th overall. Scott Pallesen was the third finisher for the Pioneers, coming across the line in 29:10.6 to place 63rd.

Joel Becker placed 64th, finishing in 29:15.6, while John Vergara rounded out the East Bay contingent finishing in 34:18.7 to place 70th.

“The men had a good season, but injuries and experience got the better of them this year,” Jones said. “They all improved this year, and will be back next year faster and stronger. Now we will begin to focus on the NCAA region meet for the women, and the men will prepare for the off season.”

The Chico men made it a double, capturing their 10th straight championship. SF State and UC San Diego came in second and third, respectively, while Humboldt State and Cal Poly Pomona rounded out the top five. The Wildcats claimed the top four spots individually, with Adrian Sherrod taking the individual title and Runner of the Year honors and third-place finisher Johnny Sanchez claiming the Newcomer of the Year award. Gary Towne took both men's and women's Coach of the Year honors for the Wildcats.

The Pioneer women will next travel to the NCAA West Regional on Nov. 5 in Spokane, Wash. The regional meet will take place at Plantes Ferry Regional Park, where the Pioneers ran the Erik Anderson Invitational earlier this season.