The CSUB cross country team opened its 2009 season at Pepperdine University on Tuesday evening. Talking with Head Coach Robert Boyles during the offseason gave me the strong impression that there would be some new faces at the front of the pack for the Roadrunners this year.
Riverside Community College transfers Arianna Celis and Casey Glassey were CSUB's top finishers at Pepperdine, placing second and fifth, respectively. Running on one of the west coast's more challenging courses, both juniors ran very well and drew praise from Boyles. Last season, CSUB was unable to displace any of the Wave's top five place finishers. On Tuesday, both Celis and Glassey were right in the mix of Pepperdine's top runners.
On a scheduling note, Pepperdine, along with Fresno State and Westmont, have committed to running at the Roadrunner Invitational on September 26. CSUB's 5-kilometer course has produced some of the region's fastest times.
Finishing ninth overall was sophomore Judith Mata. Mata steadily improved over the course of the season and her time of 20:27 on Tuesday's 5K course would have been her second fastest time from last season. She ran a 20:00.63 on CSUB's extremely fast course in 2008. Look for her to duck under 20 minutes at next week's Irvine Invitational.
In just her first collegiate meet, freshman Cecilia Lopez placed 15th overall. The Bakersfield native ran 20:19 and was the second fastest freshman in the race behind Pepperdine's Megan Doeding.
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