Redlands Cross Country Gains Momentum at the UC Riverside Invitational
The University of Redlands cross-country teams ran at the 2012 UC Riverside Invitational on Saturday, recording quality results on the multi-terrain course. The Bulldog men put together a sixth-place showing in the collegiate open division, while the women came in 12th.
While competing on an 8K-course for the first time this season, the Redlands men looked to their youth to lead the way during the team's second outing. Freshman Hunter Holthaus (San Diego, CA) paced the Bulldogs with his time of 27:46.5. Newcomers Jarron Helbock (San Diego, CA) and Jonathon DeGroot (San Leandro, CA) followed less than a minute later with respective times of 28:19.9 and 28:21.6.
In addition, a pair of returnees rounded out the Bulldogs' top-five runners. After being sidelined with illness two weeks earlier, senior Tom Marshall (Hillsboro, OR) crossed the finish line in 28:43.6 for a solid season debut. Sophomore Chris Bolt (Reno, NV) was right on his heels, posting a time of 28:45.0.
The Maroon and Gray boasted three additional competitors with sub-30-minute times, including freshman Ian Lee (Las Vegas, NV), freshman Nathan Meier (Riverside, CA), and junior Derik Harrison (Centennial, CO).
The Redlands women challenged the 5K-course, lengthening their season-opening distance from their home meet by 500m. Sophomore Della Lyle (Buffalo, WY) continued her impressive Bulldog career with a team-best time of 18:55.4 for 25th place.
Freshman Lauren Roberts (Portland, OR) and junior Madison Smith (Redlands, CA) finished the race less than two minutes later, earning marks of 20:17.8 and 20:38.2, respectively.
Junior Courtney Mera (Redlands, CA), junior Ellie Aguilera (Lemoore, CA), and freshman Jessie Talbert (Santa Fe, NM) comprised a tight group of Redlands finishers, crossing the line within 11 seconds of each other. Mera led off the trio with her time of 22:01.4.
The Bulldogs head to the Pomona-Pitzer Invitational on Sept. 29 at 9 a.m.
