Friday, October 29
Wildhorse Golf Club (Davis, CA)
9 a.m.
vs
Big West Conference Championships
Willliam Fallini-Haas (No. 18 on left) and Sierra Brill (No. 119 on right) lead Cal Poly into 2021 Big West Conference Cross Country Championships on Friday in Davis.
Cal Poly to Compete in Big West Championships on Friday in Davis
10/26/2021 8:32:00 AM | Cross Country
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. -- Cal Poly seeks its fifth consecutive men's title and fourth women's crown in the last six years when the Big West Conference hosts its cross country championships on Friday at Wildhorse Golf Club on the northeast side of Davis.
The Mustangs have already competed in a meet at the Wildhorse Golf Club this season, as the men placed first and the women fifth in the season-opening Stump Invitational hosted by UC Davis on Sept. 10.
Friday's competition begins with the men's 8,000-meter race at 9 a.m. followed by the women's 6,000-meter run at 10 a.m. An awards ceremony will follow the women's race.
The Mustang men's team coached by Mark Conover will be led by William Fallini-Haas, Anthony Guerra and Aidan McCarthy, all of whom finished in the top 10 in the Stump Invitational. Fallini-Haas was third, Guerra sixth and McCarthy eighth while Spencer Thurman finished 11th.
Other Mustangs schedule to compete in Friday's meet include John Bennett, Sam Roth, Xian Shively, Rory Smail and Colton Swinth.
Bennett placed seventh in the 2019 conference meet and was named Big West Freshman of the Year. Fallini-Haas was 16th two years ago.
Jake Ritter, who claimed Big West individual titles in both 2018 and 2019, will not compete in Friday's event due to a season-ending injury.
"The men continue to show momentum even with the absence of Jake Ritter, which illuminates just how much depth we have," said women's cross country head coach Priscilla Bayley. "They've been told all along to be ready for the team when their time comes, and that time is now."
Added Conover, "The men's team has been running well, shown by the narrow spread between our scoring student-athletes. They look forward to seeing what they can accomplish on Friday."
On the women's side, Sierra Brill led the Mustangs at the Stump Invitational with a fifth-place finish. Schuyler Gooley placed 18th.
Brill and Gooley will compete in Friday's run along with Elise Boisvert, Misty Diaz, Hailey Golman, Julia Heckey, Claudia Miller, Amanda OIla and Sydnie Rivas.
Brill was sixth in the 2019 Big West championships while Diaz placed 29th.
"The women are rapidly gaining traction, reducing their 1-5 team spread from 92 seconds down to 45," said Bayley. "If we can narrow that gap even further, we'll walk away with the best race of the season.
"The teams are looking stronger each week, which is exactly what you want heading into the championship part of the season," Bayley added.
Cal State Fullerton seeks to defend their 2019 women's title. The Titans bring back Trinity Ruelas, who finished third and is the top returning finisher from 2019.
The 2020 conference finals were not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Entrance to the race is $5 general admission for ages three and up. Admission is free for all students from Big West institutions with a valid student ID.
For visitors attending the event, free parking can be found along the neighborhood streets, close to Wildhorse Golf Club. In addition, the parking lot at Nugget Fields has been reserved for event patrons. The parking lot address is 1801 Moore Blvd, Davis, CA 95618, and is just a short walk from the course. Parking is available on Pole Line Road, adjacent to the course.
All fans planning to attend the 2021 Big West Cross Men's and Women's Country Championships should observe CDC health and safety guidelines. Whenever possible, fans are asked to practice social distancing with fellow spectators and remain six feet apart. The CDC recommends that unvaccinated individuals wear a mask at all times, and vaccinated individuals should wear a mask when social distancing is not possible.
The Mustangs have already competed in a meet at the Wildhorse Golf Club this season, as the men placed first and the women fifth in the season-opening Stump Invitational hosted by UC Davis on Sept. 10.
Friday's competition begins with the men's 8,000-meter race at 9 a.m. followed by the women's 6,000-meter run at 10 a.m. An awards ceremony will follow the women's race.
The Mustang men's team coached by Mark Conover will be led by William Fallini-Haas, Anthony Guerra and Aidan McCarthy, all of whom finished in the top 10 in the Stump Invitational. Fallini-Haas was third, Guerra sixth and McCarthy eighth while Spencer Thurman finished 11th.
Other Mustangs schedule to compete in Friday's meet include John Bennett, Sam Roth, Xian Shively, Rory Smail and Colton Swinth.
Bennett placed seventh in the 2019 conference meet and was named Big West Freshman of the Year. Fallini-Haas was 16th two years ago.
Jake Ritter, who claimed Big West individual titles in both 2018 and 2019, will not compete in Friday's event due to a season-ending injury.
"The men continue to show momentum even with the absence of Jake Ritter, which illuminates just how much depth we have," said women's cross country head coach Priscilla Bayley. "They've been told all along to be ready for the team when their time comes, and that time is now."
Added Conover, "The men's team has been running well, shown by the narrow spread between our scoring student-athletes. They look forward to seeing what they can accomplish on Friday."
On the women's side, Sierra Brill led the Mustangs at the Stump Invitational with a fifth-place finish. Schuyler Gooley placed 18th.
Brill and Gooley will compete in Friday's run along with Elise Boisvert, Misty Diaz, Hailey Golman, Julia Heckey, Claudia Miller, Amanda OIla and Sydnie Rivas.
Brill was sixth in the 2019 Big West championships while Diaz placed 29th.
"The women are rapidly gaining traction, reducing their 1-5 team spread from 92 seconds down to 45," said Bayley. "If we can narrow that gap even further, we'll walk away with the best race of the season.
"The teams are looking stronger each week, which is exactly what you want heading into the championship part of the season," Bayley added.
Cal State Fullerton seeks to defend their 2019 women's title. The Titans bring back Trinity Ruelas, who finished third and is the top returning finisher from 2019.
The 2020 conference finals were not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Entrance to the race is $5 general admission for ages three and up. Admission is free for all students from Big West institutions with a valid student ID.
For visitors attending the event, free parking can be found along the neighborhood streets, close to Wildhorse Golf Club. In addition, the parking lot at Nugget Fields has been reserved for event patrons. The parking lot address is 1801 Moore Blvd, Davis, CA 95618, and is just a short walk from the course. Parking is available on Pole Line Road, adjacent to the course.
All fans planning to attend the 2021 Big West Cross Men's and Women's Country Championships should observe CDC health and safety guidelines. Whenever possible, fans are asked to practice social distancing with fellow spectators and remain six feet apart. The CDC recommends that unvaccinated individuals wear a mask at all times, and vaccinated individuals should wear a mask when social distancing is not possible.
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