Results

SAN FRANCISCO --- Junior Oddessy Tapia and freshman Sarah Perrin led a determined team performance by the Pioneer women's cross country team at the Gator Invitational, hosted by San Francisco State on Friday. The Pioneers totaled 110 points to finish fourth out of 12 teams, besting CCAA rivals Cal State Monterey Bay and Sonoma State. East Bay also finished ahead of Division I teams Pacific and San Jose State. Cal State Stanislaus captured the team crown with 37 points at the 6k Golden Gate Parks Speedway Meadow course.

"We did well as a team," Pioneer head coach Ralph Jones said. "Nearly every runner turned in a personal best. This was a good race for us with the CCAA Championships coming up in two weeks. I'm pleased with the progress the women have made." 

Tapia recorded a 6K season-best time of 22:40.6 to place ninth among collegiate competitors and 12th overall out of 127 runners. "I felt that Oddessy ran really well," Jones said. "She was able to work on some things in preparation for the conference championships."

Perrin, who prepped at James Logan High School in Union City, was close behind in 10th place (13th overall). She completed the 6k course in a season-best time of 22:42.8. "Sarah performed well," Jones added. "I was pleased to see her run a controlled race that resulted in a good finish."

CSUEB's next finisher was sophomore Imani Heath, who placed 15th. Heath also recorded a season-best time of 23:10.9. Junior Alexa Torres knocked nearly a minute off her previous best as she crossed the line in 23:14.3 to take 16th place among the collegiate runners. Senior Robin McClinton, competing for the first time this season, was 31st in 24:19.2.

Juniors Julie Scully (24:51.1) and Angie Gonzales (24:55.8) made their 6k debuts and finished 39th and 42nd respectively. Iris Martinez placed 57th in 26:33.3 to conclude a solid Pioneer performance.
  
Cal State East Bay will have its final prep before the CCAA Championships when the team runs in the Bronco Invitational, hosted by Santa Clara University on October 19.