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Otters Finish Strong In Final Pre-Conference Tune Up

Nathan Garcia leads men to third place; Natalie Harper is top DII finisher for women

October 16, 2021

By: Kevin Gilmore (@OtterKevin)
SUNNYVALE, Calif. — The Cal State Monterey Bay cross country teams gave their best performances of the season Saturday afternoon at the Santa Clara University Bronco Invitational on the Baylands Park course. The race was CSUMB's final tune up before the CCAA Championship Meet next week in San Marcos.

Junior Nathan Garcia (El Centro/Southwest HS) led the Otters to a third place finish in the open division, placing 32nd overall and third amongst non–NCAA Division I collegiate runners in 25:52.7. Sophomore Ryan Bradley (Sacramento/Sheldon HS) finished 10 spots back, shattering his PR by more than half of a minute with a 26:01.4.

Fellow sophomore Connor Farrow (Modesto/Beyer HS) finished 10 places behind Bradley with a season–best 26:13.6. Freshman Maxwell Eickle (Pasadena HS) ran well in his first collegiate race, finishing 75th in 26:39.3. Fellow freshman Diego Denson (Upland/Claremont HS) also earned a spot in the top half of the 193 runner field by finishing 78th in 26:41.1, marking the third consecutive race in which he set an 8K PR.

The Otter men finished third overall and first amongst non–NCAA Division I teams in the 13–team field. Cal Poly placed first and Saint Mary's College placed second. Other NCAA Division II teams competing included Dominican University (9th) and Holy Names University (12th).

The Otter women competed in the prestigious invitational race Saturday, where freshman Natalie Harper (Elk Grove/Cosumnes River HS) did something very few Otters have done over the last three seasons: She beat teammate Brooke Roy (Camas [Wash.] HS). Both Harper and Roy ran strong races Saturday, but the freshman was a bit better on this day, finishing 68th overall, first amongst NCAA Division II runners and fourth amongst non–NCAA Division I collegiate runners with a PR of 22.26.1.

Roy gave Harper a worthy challenge, running a season–best 6K of 22:37.7 to finish 76th overall and second amongst NCAA Division II competitors. Freshman Lisa Irvine (Roseville/Woodcreek HS) just missed a spot in the top half of the field with her own PR of 22:44.7 to place 82nd overall.

"The teams stepped it up today. Their efforts resulted in more PRs for both squads," said CSUMB Head Coach Greg Rhines. "The women ran one of the fastest team times in MB history. The men ran like they were on a mission today, and a fast one at that. Adjustments were made and it came out in individual performances. I'm looking forward to next week."

Next week will see the Otters return to the Cal State San Marcos campus course for the second time this season when they compete at the CCAA Championship Meet Saturday, Oct. 23.



 
GO OTTERS!


 
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