THE MASTER'S XC INVITATIONAL
Oct. 5, 2024 • Santa Clarita, Calif. (Central Park)
8 a.m. PT – Men's 8k • 8:45 a.m. PT – Women's 6k
COVERAGE
Live Results:
X (Twitter): @FresnoStateTFXC
FRESNO, Calif. — The Fresno State cross country teams return to action this weekend, racing at The Master's XC Invitational on Saturday morning. It will be the first time the Bulldogs have competed in the meet under Director of Track Field/Cross Country Jason Drake.
'DOGS ON THE COURSE
WOMEN:Molly Bizik, Hannah Garrity, Shaylee Grimm, Mia Jauregui, Crystal Raya, Jennifer Recinos
MEN: RJ Estrada, Noah Graffigna, Marcus Jauregui, Guillermo Lopez, Enrique Loredo, Christian Santana, Jaden Tungate, Elijah Williams
A LOOK BACK
The Bulldogs had two athletes on the women's team move up into the Top 5 in program history in the 6k on Sept. 21 at Riverside Invitational. Chiara Pedol went 20:44.8 to jump to third after her second meet with the 'Dogs. Khushleen Khakh went from 19th to fifth with a time of 20:57.0. It was the first time Bulldog teammates have run under 21 minutes in the same season, let alone the same meet.
ADDING ANOTHER TO THE TOP 25
Fresno State entered this season with seven women on its current roster sitting inside the program's Top 25 in the 6k. Diana Cortes became No. 8 to join the list on Sept. 21. The junior's time of 21:56.3 at the Riverside Invitational put her No. 22 on the list.
ITALIAN DEBUT
In her first race for the Bulldogs, Chiara Pedol, native of Chies d'Alpago, Italy, became the first Bulldog freshman to debut with a time inside the program's Top 25 since Sydney Fox in 2018 when her time at the USF Invitational came in at No. 23.
BULLDOGS IN 2024
The women's team features 15 athletes this season while the men have nine.
Twelve of the 15 women are back from 2023, including seniors Gianna Chiaramonte, Shaylee Grimm, Morgan Hutchison, Mia Jauregui, Ashley Ochoa, Crystal Raya, Jennifer Recinos and Corie Smith.
The men's team sees six new faces this season. Returning are senior Christian Santana and sophomores Emilio Nunez and Elijah Williams.
IN THE FRESNO STATE TOP 25
Quite a bit of movement occurred in the program's Top 25 in the women's 6k last year. Four Bulldogs entered the list with a fifth lowering her time.
It is the most movement to the list in one season since 2007.
The first came when current sophomore Khushleen Khakh moved into a tie for 19th at the Pacific Invitational with a time of 21:51.
Four more came at Baylands Regional Park in the Bronco Invitational. Corie Smith took sole possession of ninth with a time of 21:16. Gianna Chiaramonte (T-21st – 21:55), Ashley Ochoa (23rd – 21:59) and Mia Jauregui (T24th – 22:01) each jumped into the Top 25 with their performances.
THE SCHEDULE
Fresno State's first four meets of the year will be run within 400-miles of one another with two in Northern California (USF Invitational, Bronco Invitational) and two in Southern California (Riverside Invitational, The Master's University XC Invitational). The fifth will see that distance more than double with the Mountain West Championships being hosted by Air Force in Colorado Springs, Colo. on Nov. 1. The NCAA West Regional will follow two weeks later in Pullman, Wash.