FULLERTON, Calif. – The Cal State Monterey Bay cross country team took to the course for the first time this season and put together a solid opening appearance at the Biola Invitational held at Ted Craig Regional Park on Friday morning. 

"What a great first meet," head coach Greg Rhines said. "The course was slow, and we still knocked out some fast times. We had strong individual performances on both teams. I'm very proud of these teams."

Senior Ali Keith was the top finisher for the Otters as she covered the 5k course in a time of 18:40.4 to place 14th overall. Sophomore Rachel Hoops followed in 16th at 18:43.8. 

Sophomore Angeline Gutierrez was 35th with a time of 19:13.8 and junior Cozette Wood was just behind in 36th at 19:15.1. 

Junior Daniela Munguia placed 44th with a time of 19:30 and Hannah Amundsen was 49th at 19:47.8. Rounding out the CSUMB top seven was Cassidy Andreadakis, crossing the line in 51st with a time of 19:50.4.

On the men's side, junior Angel Arciniega paced the squad with a 36th place finish, clocking a 25:36 on the 8k course. Junior Cameron Cornforth finished 49th with a time of 26:03.9. Sophomore Hanival Osorio-Martinez followed in 53rd with a 26:07.8. 

Junior Jake Walton placed 62nd at 26:21.9, and Andrew Pursley rounded out the Otter scorers in 67th with a time of 26:28.3. 

Junior Lorenzo Cilia (72nd/26:34.2) and newcomer Alex Chavez (75th/26:41.1) capped off the top seven for CSUMB.

The Otters return to the course on Saturday, Sept. 27, when they head to Riverside to compete in the UCR Invitational.