Cal Pac Championship Contenders Emerge Over Final Weekend

On the final weekend of competition before the California Pacific Conference Championship, La Sierra's Ryan Hernandez blazed the 8k course at Friday's John Elders Invitational in Fullerton, Calif., crossing in 24:19 and eclipsing the previous season-best time by more than a minute. Just a week before, UC Merced's Jonathan Chavez turned in the fastest time with a 25:33 run at the Bronco Invitational. Hernandez, who finished 6th in a field of 201 runners, placed himself in contention for individual honors at the conference meet, which will be held at Woodward Park in Fresno, Calif.

The women's 5k also had some impressive times as Park-Gilbert's Maryan Sharif clocked the second-best 5k time of the season with a 19:38 effort, and teammate Allena Rowland crossed in 19:56, the fifth-fastest mark of the Fall. Entering the Cal Pac meet, Rowland has recorded three of the top nine times at that distance.

At Saturday's Warrior Invitational in Rocklin, Calif., five Cal Pac schools competed in the meet, and UC Merced finished with the most impressive performance. The Bobcats took 2^nd place in the men's 8k, led by another outstanding run from Chavez, who shaved a second off his previous season best with a 25:32 time and a 1^st place finish. Sharvin Manjrekar was in 4^th place with a strong 26:09 run, the seventh best 8k time this season.

In the women's 5k, UCM dominated the top 10 as three crossed with outstanding times. Alexandra Lopez ran a 20:09 to finish 4^th in the field, Elizette Ysais came in right behind her with a 20:22 time, and Anjaneesa Ward finished 10^th with a 21:01 effort—all three times by the Bobcat runners rank in the top 14 recorded this Fall.

RECENT RESULTS

Friday, Oct. 21

JOHN ELDERS TITAN INVITE, at Fullerton, Calif.

Women's 5k results

Park-Gilbert 16^th of 17 teams

PARK: Maryan Sharif (66^th) 19:38

La Sierra no team score

LSU: Alma Ramirez (145^th) 23:22

Men's 8k results

La Sierra 13^th of 16 teams

LSU: Ryan Hernandez (6^th) 24:19

Park-Gilbert no team score

PARK: Noah Fleming (132^nd) 28:05

Saturday, Oct. 22

WARRIOR INVITATIONAL, at Rocklin, Calif.

Women's 5k results

UC Merced 2^nd of 6 teams

UCM: Alexandra Lopez (4^th) 20:09; Elizette Ysais (5^th) 20:22; Anjaneesa Ward (10^th) 21:01

Soka America no team score

SUA: Hiromi Hashide (27^th) 23:10

Simpson no team score

SU: Amanda Simpson (33^rd) 24:24

Cal Maritime no team score

CSUM: Julia Mast (42^nd) 27:40

Men's 8k results

UC Merced 2^nd of 7 teams

UCM: Jonathan Chavez (1^st) 25:32; Sharvin Manjrekar (4^th) 26:09

Soka America 4^th of 7 teams

SUA: Randall Lindenmayer (13^th) 26:56

Cal Maritime 7^th of 7 teams

CSUM: Michael Lapinski (29^th) 28:07

Simpson no team score

SU: Joshua Peralta (71^st) 36:42

UPCOMING MEETS

Friday, Nov. 4

CALIFORNIA PACIFIC CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Hosted by UC Merced at Woodward Park, Fresno, Calif.