Broncos Place Fourth at Cougar Challenge
By: Alex Kline, Assistant Athletics Director for Communications
SAN MARCOS, CA – The CPP women's cross country team placed fourth in the Cougar Challenge on Saturday morning. The 6K race was held at Mangrum Track & Field on the campus of Cal State San Marcos.
The Broncos totaled 147 points with nine runners at an average time of 22:10, while Chico State led the entire field with just 46 points and an average time of 21:21. Of the 12 NCAA Division II teams competing in the race, CPP finished second behind only the Wildcats.
Redshirt freshman Alondra Arias was once again the first Bronco to come across, finishing with a time of 21:46.1 and placing 21st in the field of 184. Angela Arellano (21:54.9), Lauren Jauregui (22:11.0), and Vivian Martinez (22:20.5) also all finished in the top 50. Of CPP's nine runners, eight finished in the top 100 of the race.
Sophomore Julia Butler (22:39.5), redshirt freshman Shelby Ortega-Hufana (23:37.1), and redshirt freshman Andrea Guadian (24:08.2) each set personal-bests, each surpassing their performance last weekend at the 42nd Annual UCR Cross Country Invitational.
"I thought we had a really good day for both the Men and Women," said head coach Chris Bradford. "Running two high-level races back-to-back was a challenge, but they stepped up to it. We didn't run a full women's, team holding out a couple of first-year freshmen, so it was great to see others get an opportunity to contribute and still have the team run at a high level - beating some strong CCAA and West Region opponents."
Up Next
The Broncos will compete in the Pomona-Pitzer Invite on Saturday, October 7th, at 7:45 AM. The race will be held at the Pomona College Campus Course in Claremont, CA.
Bronco Bits
- The Broncos' 4th place finish at the Cougar Challenge is their highest since 2019. CPP placed sixth in 2022, sixth in 2021, and fourth in 2019.
- The Broncos were picked third in the CCAA preseason poll, behind two-time reigning league champion Stanislaus State, the first-time West Region victor last November, and perennial power Chico State
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- Arias Runs Second-Fastest Regional Time in Program History While Broncos Place 6th at NCAA West RegionalsMONMOUTH, OR – Alondra Arias shined in the NCAA West Regionals on Saturday morning, placing 13th in a field of 164. Her time of 21:21.1 was not only a personal best, but is tied with Araseli Servin (2019) for the second-fastest time in a six-kilometer regional championship meet, and also ranks tied for seventh in school history in 6K races. The fastest time at a NCAA West Regional race was set by Luz Garcia, also set in 2019, who finished in 21:08.8 on the same course, Ash Creek Preserve.
