TRINIDAD, Calif. — The Dominican University of California women's cross country team placed third at the Humboldt Invitational, led by Julianna Mendez.

A week after finishing as the top NCAA Division II runner at the San Francisco Invitational, Mendez continued her stellar performance. She was 19 seconds ahead of the next finisher with a time of 22.12.0, which was third overall out of the 49-runner field and the top collegiate time. Freshman Sami Koss finished 11th overall with a time of 23:24.0. Freshman Gabi Foyle placed 22nd with a time of 25:02.0. Sophomore Janine Villanueva improved from her last race with a time of 25:09.9. Freshman Karina Duarte rounded out team scoring with a time of 25:59.0, good for 31st place. Freshman Oriana Cortes placed 33rd respectively with a time of 26:06.0. Sophomore Sierra Najolia ran a time of 27:04.0, in 37th, and senior Aimee Carrazco placed 45th in 30:23.0.

The women's course at Patrick's Point State Park ended up being slightly short and was calculated as a 5.95k race. Host Humboldt State led all teams with a time of 1:54:38. Sonoma State finished second at 2:01:01 and Dominican finished on the Seawolves' tails at 2:01:46 in third out of six teams.

On the men's side, Anthony Sassano competed for the first time since being sidelined with a foot injury early in the season, and finished the 8k in 38th place in the 47-runner field with a time of 29:44.8. Junior Chris Suen finished in 42nd place with a time of 30:37.8 and senior Patrick Davis placed 43rd with a time of 31:34.5.

Dominican will next travel to Santa Clarita, California for the Mustang Challenge, hosted by The Master's College, on Saturday, Sept. 19.