Deborah Maier Leads Cal Women at Stanford Invite

Courtesy Cal
Bear Women Second, Men Fifth in Cross Country Race

Sept. 25, 2010


STANFORD - Junior Deborah Maier took runner-up honors at the Stanford Invitational Saturday, helping the Cal women's cross country team to a second-place finish in the team standings in the 37th annual competition held on the Stanford Golf Course. The Golden Bear men, led by Michael Coe's fifth-place result, were fifth.

"I thought our results were very encouraging," head coach Tony Sandoval said. "We demonstrated that we have a solid group on both sides. We know we have some strategic adjustements to make before we go to the Pre-NCAA meet in three weeks."


Maier, a first-team All-Pac-10 performer for Cal last season, covered the 6000-meter course in 20:10, just four seconds behind winner Kathy Kroeger of Stanford. UCLA's Shannon Murakami was 24 seconds in back of Maier in third in 20:34.

The Bears placed two other runners in the top 20, with sophomore Laurynne Chetelat taking 19th (21:23) and senior Rowena Tam 20th (21:26). Chetelat was competing on her former home course, as she transferred to Cal from Stanford after her freshman year.

Taylor Dutch (24th, 21:33) and Michelle Davis (30th, 21:44) also contributed points for the Bears, while Chelsea Reilly (39th, 21:56), Heather Cerney (40th; 21:57), Taylor Bryson (69th, 22:37) and Crystal Esparza (85th, 22:50) rounded out the Cal lineup.





Stanford claimed the team title with 41 points, followed by Cal with 86 and Long Beach State with 127. The Bears, who won their first two meets of the season - the USF Invitational and the Sac State Hornet Jamboree - also finished second to Stanford in last year's race.

Coe, a senior in his first cross country race since 2008 after redshirting last season, crossed the line in 23:29 after 8000 meters. Senior Kari Karlsson was the only other Bears in the top 20, placing 20th in 24:18. Sophomores Cody Schmidt (41st, 24:40) and Matt Petersen (51st, 24:57) were next, followed by senior Steve Sodaro in 60th (25:04). The remainder of the Cal results included Simon Schmidt (78th, 25:15), Maxime Chevee (84th, 25:21), J.P. Slater (131st, 25:58) and J.J. Solorzano (132nd, 25:58. There were a total of 231 individual competitors in the race.

Stanford also captured the men's crown with 31 points. Arkansas was second (43), followed by Northern Arizona (123), UCLA (130) and Cal (151).

"The women, at this point, are farther along than expected," Sandoval said. "The men's team is in recovery from a bout of sickness this past week and we know they are a quality team. Deborah Maier and Michael Coe ran exceptionally well and both can be in the national picture, individually. We'll need their leadership to get us to nationals."


The Bears return to action at the Pre-NCAA Invitational Oct. 16 in Terre Haute, Ind., site of the NCAA championships in November.

Stanford Invitational
Stanford Golf Course
Stanford, Calif.

Men's Results - 8000 meters
1. Stanford 31; 2. Arkansas 43; 3. Northern Arizona 123; 4. UCLA 130; 5. California 151; 6. Chico State 176; 7. UC Davis 219; 8. UC Santa Barbara 244; 8. Cal Poly 244; 10. Long Beach State 261; 11. San Francisco 284; 12. UC Irvine 329; 13. Santa Clara 431; 14. Loyola Marymount 463; 15. Humboldt State 504; 15. Cal Poly Pomona 504; 17. Stanford B 525; 18. Academy of Art 543; 19. San Francisco State 579; 20. Cal State Northridge 620; 21. Southwestern JC 623; 22. Concordia 657; 23. Saint Mary's 672; 24. Redlands 683; 25. Cal State Stanislaus 725; 26. Delta College 763.

Individual Winner: Davis McNeill (Northern Arizona) 23:18. Cal Finishers: 5. Michael Coe 23:29; 20. Kari Karlsson 24:18; 41. Cody Schmidt 24:40; 51. Matt Petersen 24:57; 60. Steve Sodaro 25:04; 78. Simon Schmidt 25:15; 84. Maxime Chevee 25:21; 131. J.P. Slater 25:58; 132. J.J. Solorzano 25:58.

Complete Men's Results

Women's Results - 6000-meters
1. Stanford 41; 2. California 86; 3. Long Beach State 127; 4. Cal Poly 134; 5. UCLA 168; 6. Loyola Marymount 180; 7. UC Davis 209; 8. USC 232; 9. Chico State 239; 10. Utah 268; 11. UC Irvine 309; 12. San Francisco 393; 13. San Diego State 395; 14. Cal Poly Pomona 445; 15. Santa Clara 447; 16. Saint Mary's 449; 17. Northern Arizona 470; 18. Cal State Northridge 481; 19. Southwestern JC 529; 20. Redlands 605; 21. San Francisco State 611; 22. Cal State Stanislaus 618; 23. UC Santa Cruz 642; 24. Humboldt State 698.

Individual Winner: Kathy Kroeger (Stanford) 20:06. Cal Finishers: 2. Deborah Maier 20:10; 19. Laurynne Chetelat 21:23; 20. Rowena Tam 21:26; 24. Taylor Dutch 21:33; 30. Michelle Davis 21:44; 39. Chelsea Reilly 21:56; 40. Heather Cerney 21:57; 69. Taylor Bryson 22:37; 85. Crystal Esparza 22:50.

Complete Women's Results