SANTA CLARITA, Calif. — The Dominican University of California cross country teams traveled to Southern California for the Mustang Challenge hosted by The Master's College. The women placed 15th out of 20 and the men finished in 18th place.
The Mustang Challenge featured programs from across all three NCAA divisions, plus the NAIA and was a true cross country course with dirt trails, grass, and hills. Dominican posted a total time of 1:43:01.66 for an average time of 20:36.34.
Julianna Mendez led the Penguins for the third time this season and continued to improve on her times. The junior finished with a personal record in the 5k with a time of 18:36.83. She was 30th overall in the field of 226 and the second Division II finisher behind California Baptist's Berenice Cleyet-Merle (18:14.93). Freshman
Sami Koss also posted a personal record with a time of 19:34.58, good for 89th. The Penguins stuck to a strategy of keeping their next three runners close together: sophomore
Janine Villanueva finished third in 175th with a time of 21:28.48; freshman
Gabi Foyle was close behind her, in 180th, with a time of a 21:38.97; and sophomore
Michelle Miranda was close behind Foyle, in 185th, with a time of 21:42.80. Freshmen
Oriana Cortes and
Karina Duarte crossed the finish line in 21:58.60 and 22:26.78, respectively. Sophomore
Sierra Najolia finished with a time of 22:35.23.
By the time the men's 8k rolled around, the weather had raised to nearly 100 degrees. Dominican posted a total time of 2:42:36.03 for an average of 32:31.21. Despite breathing difficulty, sophomore
Anthony Sassano was the Penguins' top runner, with a time of 31:14.40, in 191st place out of 217 runners. Junior
Chris Suen posted a time of 31:33.34, in 198th place. Freshman
Brandon Barich, in his first collegiate meet, finished in 32:10.40. Senior
Patrick Davis finished with a time of 33:38.48. Freshman
Pavlos Peritos, also in his first collegiate meet, finished in 33:59.40.
Dominican will have a week off to work on tactics before heading to Springlake Regional Park in Santa Rosa, California for the Sonoma State Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 3.
