Invitational to see 12k runners descend upon campus this weekend
October 20, 2021 - 02:21 PM
This coming weekend, Oct. 22-23, 12,000 runners from all over will descend on Mt.
SAC for what is known as “The world’s largest cross country invitational” or formally
known as The Mt. SAC Cross Country Invitational. The 12,000 students will come from
430 high schools and compete two full days in 81 races.
This past Friday, 1,500 elementary/middle school students ran the Invitational, along
with the Community College Division races.
New for this year (or ‘old’ depending on how you look at it) is the return of the famous XC course, which for the past several years has had to be modified due to the construction of the Hilmer Lodge Stadium. With the stadium complete and open, the course can now revert to its traditional layout.
“We look forward to welcoming everyone back to the 73rd Annual Event, which will be held on the traditional Mt. SAC Cross Country Course,” said Doug Todd, Mt. SAC Director of Athletic Special Events. “The Mt. SAC Cross Country Invitational is the largest of its kind and along with the Mt. SAC Relays, is renowned throughout the country.”
Holding one of the nation’s premiere cross country events is part and parcel for Mt.
SAC, and the Mounties proved it Friday when they captured the Women’s Invitational
Race, while the Men and Women together captured the Sweepstakes Title for best team
overall.
Hannah Brown was the top Mountie finisher with a time of 19:08.7, good enough for second place in a field of 70 runners. Top-20 finishers for Mt. SAC included Amanda Crowell (5th place, 19:27.5), Kaitlyn Atkinson (6th, 19:31.3), Kimberly Pena (8th, 19:40.4), Jessica Mojarro-Salinas (12th, 20:13.3), Karla Galvan (13th, 20:20.1), and Allison Gutierrez (16th, 20:32.0).
For the men, Elijah Ocegueda finished first in a field of 136 for the Mounties, turning
in a time of 21:22.7. Teammates Jesse Alvarado (21:37.1) and Zackary Alexander (21:40.5)
placed third and fourth, respectively. Jalen Griego (14th place, 22:15.3), Yair Torres
(15th, 22:18.4), and Angel Perez (18th, 22:40.5) rounded out the top-20 finishers
for Mt. SAC.
The Mounties will next compete in the South Coast Conference Championships at Compton College on Friday, Oct. 29, at 9 a.m.
For more information, visit the Mountie Athletics website or follow Mt. SAC Athletics on Twitter @MtSAC_athletics or Facebook @Mountie.Athletics.
