Long Beach State University Athletics
Cross Country prepares for Big West Conference Championships
10/28/2010 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country
Oct. 28, 2010
LONG BEACH - The Long Beach State cross country team travels to the Inland Empire on Saturday for the Big West Conference Championships at UC Riverside's Agricultural Operations Course. The women's 6,000-meter race is scheduled to start 8:45 a.m., followed by the men's 8,000-meter competition beginning at 9:30 a.m.
LBSU is looking to improve on last year's performances as the women's team finished in fourth place and the men's squad placed fifth.
Senior Jennifer Rodriguez and junior Rosa Del Toro lead the women's team that has had a strong season with four top-three finishes, including a first-place finish at the Bronco Invitational in Sunnyvale. Del Toro won the Aztec Invitational in September and is a two-time Big West Cross Country Athlete of the Week winner.
On the men's side, juniors Matt Maldonado, Steven DeCastro and Josh Ruff and freshman Heath Reedy will lead the 49ers in Saturday's event. LBSU recorded two top-five finishes, placing second at the Fullerton Opener and third at the Aztec Invitational, and two more top-10 finishes, placing 10th at the Stanford Invitational and sixth at the Bronco Invitational.
"We're extremely excited and eager to get out to Riverside," distance coach Patrick Cunniff said. "Both men's and women's teams are ready to compete. This is one of the meets we pointed towards all year, especially going back to summer training. We think both teams can mix it up with anybody there and can't wait to see what people can do."
Admission to the 2010 Big West Cross Country Championships will be $5 per person, with free admission for Big West students and children under five. Parking will be $5 per car.
Players Mentioned
