UC Riverside Invitational
Cal Poly Women Secure Second, Men Earn Third at UC Riverside Invitational
9/21/2024 6:00:00 PM | Cross Country
RIVERSIDE, Calif. — The Cal Poly cross country program had a strong showing in its second meet of the season Saturday as the women captured second and the men took home third at the UC Riverside Invitational.
The meet was held at UCR’s Ag/Ops Course, the host site for this year’s Big West Championship, and the Mustangs showcased once again just how difficult it will be to prevent them from sweeping the men’s and women’s conference titles for a third consecutive year. Cal Poly finished in front of all the other Big West teams that took part in the meet — Cal State Fullerton, CSUN, Hawai’i (women only), Long Beach State, UC Irvine, UC Riverside and UC Santa Barbara.
The Cal Poly women were second only to Utah State, finishing 56 points behind the Aggies (67 to 123) and five points ahead of third-place Cal Baptist, who received votes in the Week 1 USTFCCCA National Coaches Poll and was ranked No. 22 entering the season.
In her season debut, junior Tatiana Cornejo led the Mustangs, finishing fourth overall with a personal-best 6K time of 20:01.5. Last year, the Elk Grove, Calif. native earned USTFCCCA All-West Region honors by placing 23rd at the NCAA West Regional meet.
Redshirt sophomore Sophia Nordenholz was the next women to cross the finish line for Cal Poly in the 6K invite, securing 13th (20:18.2). It was Nordenholz’s first cross country meet as a Mustang after transferring to Cal Poly from Washington (2022-23) this spring. Senior Ellie Baxter grabbed a 25th-place finish (20:36.0) and sophomore Kelli Gaffney 27th (20:37.5) as both posted 6K personal bests.
Redshirt junior Isabel Sanchez finished 56th (21:07.0), sophomore Sydney Sundgren 57th (21:07.4) and freshman Melisse Djomby Enyawe 58th (21:07.6) to round out the top seven finishers for the Mustangs. Redshirt junior Nina St. John (110th, 21:46.1), redshirt freshman Lianna Guerra (73rd, 21:20.4) and freshman Renae Searls (83rd, 21:28.2) also competed for the Cal Poly women.
On the men’s side, the Mustangs grabbed third as a team with 113 points, finishing behind first-place Cal Baptist (25) — who is currently receiving votes nationally — and Utah State (40).
Redshirt junior Spencer Pickren set the tone for the Cal Poly men in the 8K invite, securing 12th overall (23:48.1). Senior Colton Swinth wasn’t far behind, earning 15th (23:50.5).
Redshirt freshman Ethan Miller (23:58.6) and redshirt junior Michael Chambers (24:01.0) took 25th and 28th respectively, both running 8K personal bests. 2023 Big West Men’s Cross Country Freshman of the Year Chris Caudillo placed 35th (24:06.3), Bryce Kueker 57th (24:19.3) and Lewis Westwood 60th (24:22.2). Redshirt sophomore Carson Smith (106th, 24:51.8), and redshirt freshmen Micah Sanchez (62nd, 24:24.2) and Jude DeVries (114th, 24:56.4) also ran in the invite.
While running unattached, true freshman Eddie Sion won the men’s open 8K race at the UC Riverside Invitational with a time of 24:29.0. Rory Smail took runner-up in the race (24:37.8).
Cal Poly returns to action on Friday, Oct. 4 to compete in the Sean Earl Lakefront Invitational hosted by Loyola University Chicago.
