SAN MARCOS, Calif. - Last week, the Yotes traveled to Monterey Bay to preview the championship course, which will be hosting the CCAA cross country championships this November. This week, they traveled down south to San Marcos for the Cougar Challenge, which featured six CCAA teams, to preview the competition they will be seeing at the CCAA championships.

With the Yotes returning to race on last year's championship course, they came in with knowledge and confidence to run fast - and they did. Seven different Yotes clocked in personal best times for this distance.

On a hotter than usual day, the Yotes managed seven personal bests with the average time improved by over 35 seconds. Alexis Wallace led the way for the Yotes finishing 31^st overall in the 187-athlete field, crossing the line in a time of 22:28.2. Joanna Lopez was not far behind her by crossing the line in a personal best time of 22:53.4, her first time under the 23 minute mark and an improvement by 19 seconds.

Kai Marroquin and Helena Valdez finished with personal bests at this distance in times of 23:39.6 and 24:02.9, respectively. Both athletes set records by over 45 seconds from their previous bests at this distance. Miranda Avila came through in a time of 24:41.2 as the team's fifth scorer helping the team secure an 11^th place finish in a very competitive 17-team challenge.

Four other Yotes ended the day with great performances, Maria Rojas (25:08.3), Samantha Avila (25:31.1), Caty Gaynor (25:35.1), and Giselle Cabrera (27:47.7) all recording personal best times at this distance.

 

"I was happy with how I raced Saturday, I feel I was able to stay focused and composed throughout. I'm super excited for the next half of this season, we got our reminder of what racing feels like and so now we get to use that to finish out our season." – Caty Gaynor

 

"The Yotes gave a good effort despite the warm weather we faced at the Cougar Challenge. We came out with seven big personal bests and I couldn't be more excited to see what we will accomplish in two weeks going into Pomona Pitzer." – Coach Nicole McDonald

 
 

CSUSB Women's 6k Individual Results
1.	Alexis Wallace	SR	22:28.2
2.	Joanna Lopez	SO	22:53.4
3.	Kai Marroquin	FR	23:39.6
4.	Helena Valdez	JR	24:02.9
5.	Miranda Avila	JR	24:41.2
6.	Nicole Renteria	SO	25:06.1
7.	Maria Rojas	JR	25:08.3
8.	Samantha Avila	FR	25:31.1
9.	Caty Gaynor	SO	25:35.1
10.	Arlene Castro	JR	26:23.2
11.	Justine Ziranda	SR	27:08.6
12.	Giselle Cabrera	FR	27:47.7
13.	Tayonna Hargrove	SR	27:51.0

 

Up Next
The CSUSB Women will compete at the Pomona-Pitzer Invite in Claremont, CA on October 8th. Come out and support your Yotes!