Men and Women Back in State Championships for First Time In 20 Years
Van Nuys, CA -- For the first time in two decades, both the Men's and Women's Citrus College Cross Country teams will be competing at the 2014 California Community College Athletic Association State Championships as teams. The Owls qualified for the final race of the year, thanks to their performances at the 2014 Southern California Championships on Friday, where the men finished 15th and the women 18th.
On the women's side, freshman Antonella Curinga was the first Citrus runner to break the finish line, taking 77th place overall and posting a time of 20:36.12. Sophomore Jessica McMillen was a few steps behind her in 88th place and a time of 20:51.19, while freshman Janet Meza-Avila also broke the 21 minute barrier with a 94th place finish and time of 20:58.76. Freshmen Nataly Meza-Avila and Paige Peterson rounded out the top five for Citrus with 103rd (21:08.41) and 114th (21:26.22) place finishes respectively.
As a team, the Owls accumulated 471 points edging Orange Coast College by 29 points. Citrus posted a total team time of 1:45.00.36, and had an average time of 21:00.08.
For the men, freshman Daniel Hernandez-Cabrera led the pack once again finishing 29th overall with a time of 20:59.57. Freshman Andrew Ballin crossed the finish line about a minute later in 87th place (21:59.19), while sophomore Diego Lopez was hot on Ballin's heels in 91st place (22:03.80). Freshmen Efren Alcala Jr. and Andres Aparicio were the next two Owls across the finish line in 99th (22:09.87) and 108th (22:16.62) places respectively.
On the whole, Citrus earned 400 points just narrowly avoiding Cuyamaca College who was seven points behind. The Owls posted a total team time of 1:49.29.05 and averaged a time of 21:53.81.
The two teams will continue their training throughout this week and next before wrapping up the season at the State Championships on Saturday November 22nd. The women's race will kick things off 10:00 AM at Woodward Park in Fresno, CA.