CSU San Marcus Women Run Away with A.I.I. 5K Cross-Country Championship

Courtesy Cal State San Marcus

CSUSM Women Run Away with A.I.I. 5K Cross-Country Championship
by Kyle Trembley
11/6/2010 1:13:09 PM

#1-ranked Cal State San Marcos women’s cross-country stayed true to its ranking on Saturday, winning the A.I.I. Championship on its home course.

In a meet that featured #4-ranked Simon Fraser University and #10-ranked University of British Columbia, the top-ranked and defending national champion Cougars put five runners in the top eight finishers, winning the race by a comfortable margin. CSUSM posted a team score of 24, followed by Simon Fraser at 42. British Columbia took third at 60, with Soka finishing fourth at 120. Johnson & Wales also competed, but had to withdraw a runner and therefore did not receive a team score.

In the three years that the A.I.I. has existed, CSUSM has won the conference championship each season.
The individual competition was not won by the host school, however. That honor belongs to Simon Fraser’s Helen Croft, who bested the field of 48 runners with a time of 17:39.

Croft was followed by three Cougars, led by Kelly Thompson [So. 5-8 Oceanside, CA / Vista High S.] Thompson, a sophomore who keyed the team’s national championship upset win last season, had not finished first or second on the team in any meet this season, but that didn’t stop her from taking second in the field at Saturday’s Conference Championships with a time of 17:42.

Finishing with Thompson was fellow Cougar Jessica Sandoval [Sr. 5-0 Oceanside, CA / Oceanside High School], who also posted a time of 17:42 to take third in the meet. CSUSM newcomer Suzanne Cornwell [Jr. 5-4 Baltimore, MD / Susquehannock High School]came in fourth, posting a time of 17:48.

UBC runner Nelly Amenyogbe placed fifth, coming in with a time of 17:51. Next was Simon Fraser’s Angela Shaw, who ran 17:55 to take sixth.

CSUSM took the next two slots, ensuring their team victory. Caitlin Villarreal [Jr. 5-4 Manteca, CA / Norco High], who was leading the race halfway through, settled for seventh in the field with a time of 18:00. One second later, Carol Schryver [Sr. 5-6 Ogai, CA / Nordhoff High School] crossed the finish line in 8th place at 18:01, securing the team win.

UBC’s Maggie Woodward finished ninth at 18:03, and Simon Fraser’s Brianna Kane rounded out the top-10 with a time of 18:06.

By winning the meet, CSUSM earns the conference’s automatic bid to defend their NAIA National Championship on November 20th at Fort Vancouver, WA.

Cal State San Marcus Women's Roster
Full Name Academic Year Ht. Hometown / Highschool
Jen Albright Sr. 5-3 San Diego, CA / Cathedral Catholic High School
Christina Cooper Jr. 5-7 Murrieta, CA / Vista Murrieta High School
Suzanne Cornwell Jr. 5-4 Baltimore, MD / Susquehannock High School
Chelsey Cortez Fr. 5-9 Ramona, CA / Ramona High School
Michelle Cruz Fr. 5-2 Vista, CA / Vista High School
Nancy diBenedetto Sr. 5-3 Orange, CA / El Modena High School
Jennifer Dorame Fr. 5-4 Garden Grove, CA / Trabuco Hills High
Brianna Gibas Fr. 5-5 Oceanside, CA / Carlsbad High School
Claire Hauso So. 5-3 Redlands, CA /
Erin Hearn Sr. 5-7 Ramona, CA / Ramona High School
Julie Heuring Sr. 5-8 La Verne, CA / Bonita High School
Laura Heuring Sr. 5-7 La Verne, CA / Bonita High School
Natalie Lotz Sr. 5-7 Lake Forest, CA /
Natalie Moore Sr. 5-6 Carlsbad, CA / Carlsbad High School
Jenna Nichol Sr. El Toro. CA /
Melissa Olmos Sr. 5-6 Rosmond, CA / AVC
Cassidy Reich Jr. 5-4 Healdsburg, CA / Healdsburg High School Chandler Rezendez Fr. 5-8 Yucaipa, CA / Yucaipa High School
Aubriele Rowe Sr. 5-5 Vista, CA / Palomar College
Kimberly Rowland So. 5-8 Simi Valley, CA / Simi Valley High School
Jessica Sandoval Sr. 5-0 Oceanside, CA / Oceanside High School
Carol Schryver Sr. 5-6 Ogai, CA / Nordhoff High School
Suzanne Scrimenti Sr.
Brooke Smith Jr. 5-4 Phelan, CA / Serrano High School
Ciera Stauffer Fr. 5-3 Lakeside, CA / West Hills High School
Bridgette Stevens So. 5-3 San Marcos, CA / Mission Hills High School
Heidi Swanson Fr. 5-6 Lakeside, CA / El Capitan High School
Kelly Thompson So. 5-8 Oceanside, CA / Vista High School
Cady Villarreal Jr. 5-4 Manteca, CA / Norco High
Jessica Walker Jr. 5-3 Murrieta, CA / Murrieta Valley High School

Coaching Staff
Name Title
Steve Scott Head Cross-Country and Track & Field Coach
Casey Evans Volunteer Assistant Cross-Country Coach
Whitney Patton Volunteer Assistant Cross-Country