Reagan Lee

Late Start Worth The Wait For Otter Harriers At UCR Invite

September 15, 2018 | By: By Kevin Gilmore (@OtterKevin)

Freshman Brooke Roy sparkles with fifth best 5K in Otter history

WOMEN'S RESULTS | MEN'S RESULTS

RIVERSIDE, Calif. — The latest start for a Cal State Monterey Bay cross country season since 2008 proved to be worth the wait as Otter harriers turned in several impressive performances Saturday at the UC Riverside Invitational on the UCR Ag Ops Course.

There's no doubt that newcomer Brooke Roy stole the show for the Otters on this morning. The freshman out of Camus (Wash.) High School ran the fifth–fastest 5K in school history with am 18:35.5 to finish in 27th place. Only Hannah Bell, Jessy McIntyre and Piper Delaney ever ran a 5K faster as an Otter. That's pretty heady company for a freshman.

"I am so impressed with Brooke," says CSUMB Head Coach Greg Rhines (@gdrhines). "She has a good attitude, a light and positive demeanor, and I personally saw that she kills it in her running. Big things are coming for Brooke Roy."

The Otter women also got strong runs from senior Hadley Clark (Tamalpias HS) and junior Alex Baron (San Jose/Prospect HS). Both runners not only PRed—Clark at 19:14.8 and Baron at 19:32.6—both earned spots in the CSUMB all–time Top 15 5K runs. Clark's run is No. 13 and Baron's run sits at No. 15.

Led by that trio, the Otters placed 13th of 20 teams in the Open Division with 341 points. Amongst the teams they beat were CCAA rivals Cal State San Bernardino (18th, 453) and Cal State L.A. (20th, 631).

In the men's race, senior Matt Morris (Casa Robles HS/American River College) led the Otters to a ninth place finish in the 17–team field by placing 48th overall in 26:35.9. Freshmen Nathan Garcia (El Centro/Southwest HS) and Joel Swiatkowski (Milikan HS) followed Morris with PRs of 26:44.3 and 27:21.5 respectively.

""I am pleased with today's outcomes. There are new faces that began adjusting to the collegiate racing scene today, as well as the veterans getting reacquainted with it," said Rhines. "It is a kick in the pants once the first gun goes off in the season. I didn't expect any PRs, but there were some from freshmen and from returners. That's always a wonderful surprise. Today was a learning experience for CSUMB cross country, and the they learned well."

CSUMB will take next weekend off before returning to action at the second of three consecutive NCAA Division I meets to open the season at the Stanford Invitational Sept. 29.

GO OTTERS!

Print Friendly Version