Results

SPOKANE, Wash. - The Cal State East Bay women's cross country team became the first Pioneer team to compete at an NCAA event since the program's return to Division II, when it placed 20th overall at the NCAA Division II West Regional on Saturday. The Pioneers were led by freshman Kaitlyn Smith on the 6k course at Plantes Ferry Regional Park in Spokane, Wash. 

For the second consecutive race, Smith paced the East Bay contingent placing 67th overall in the field of over 160 individuals. The Twentynine Palms native, clocked a time of 23:32, just 30 seconds off her personal best, and took nearly a minute off her time from the Erik Anderson Invitational, also held at the Plantes Ferry course earlier this season. Smith finished 2:41 back of the winner and was 1:10 out of All-West Region contention.

Amanda McNabb came across in 24:03 to place 89th overall and second among the Pioneers. Gabriella Cruz followed McNabb in 113th, finishing 28 seconds later in 24:31. Cruz was just 14 seconds off her previous pace at Plantes Ferry in September.

Tiffany Duffy crossed the line in 25:04, finishing 133rd overall, while Nastassia Hamor rounded out the Pioneer contingent with a 149th-place finish and a time of 25:36.

Alaska Anchorage claimed both the team and individual titles, placing all six of its scoring runners in the top 15. Individual winner Ruth Keino crossed the line in 20:51. The Seawolves beat out runner up Chico State by nearly 40 points. The Wildcats placed three runners in the top 15 and posted an 82 point win over third-place Western Washington. Chico State was joined by five other CCAA teams in the top 10, including fifth-place Cal Poly Pomona. As a team, the Pioneers claimed victories over Cal State Dominguez Hills, St. Martin's, Central Washington and Hawaii Pacific.

Cal State East Bay loses just one senior in Gabriella Cruz and will look to continue to build in the 2012 campaign, its second under Head Coach Ralph Jones.