Mechanics Bank Cal Poly Student-Athlete of the Week: Jake Ritter
Jake Ritter, Junior, Citrus Heights, Calif. | Granite Bay High School
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — After a win by a 42-second margin at the Big West Cross Country Championships to claim his second consecutive conference title, Mustang junior Jake Ritter was named Mechanics Bank Cal Poly Student-Athlete of the Week on Monday.
Ritter’s 8k medalist performance on Saturday morning came with a time of 23 minutes, 43.7 seconds, helping the team score a victorious 44 points at UC Riverside’s Ag-Ops Course.
He bested UC Santa Barbara rival Nick Randazzo by a 42.8-second gap for the crown while moving to No. 9 in the storied history of the course dating back to the late 1970s.
Jake Ritter of @CalPolyTrack_XC had a 4️⃣2️⃣ second gap between him and second place to secure his repeat victory! ���� here's what he had to say... #LeaveALegacy | #RideHigh pic.twitter.com/v2f7hBATK7
— Big West Championships (@BigWestChamps) November 2, 2019
In the process, he led the squad to the team title — their fourth in a row — becoming only the third program in Big West history (51 years’ worth) to claim that many consecutively. The other two were Cal Poly from 2003-09 and Long Beach State in 1969-72.
Cal Poly’s team trophy came by nine points, topping Cal State Fullerton’s 53 points.
The postseason continues with the NCAA West Regional Championships on Friday, Nov. 15. Washington State will host the meet at nearby Colfax Golf Complex, set for an 11:30 a.m. start.
Photo © John Fajardo
