FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State cross country teams open their season on Friday afternoon, competing at the USF Invitational. It will be the first of six meets for the Bulldogs in 2023.
USF INVITATIONAL
Date: Sept. 1, 2023
Time: 2 p.m. – Women's 6k; 3:30 p.m. – Men's 8k
Location: Hellman Hollow, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, Calif.
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'DOGS IN ACTION
Seven 'Dogs will be competing on Friday, 12 on the women's side and five on the men.
Women:Gianna Chiaramonte, Diana Cortes, Walker Douglas, Rain Gomez, Kushleen Khakh, Victoria Nino, Ashley Ochoa, Janae Penner, Ximena Ramos, Jennifer Recinos, Kylie Ward
Men:Emilio Nunez, Juanathan Reyes, Christian Santana, Elijah Williams, Yu Chen Yong
BULLDOGS IN 2023
Fresno State women
With 17 athletes, the women will have its largest roster since Head Coach Jason Drake took over the program in 2019.
Eight of the 17 return from last year while two others joined the track program last spring.
Shaylee Grimm and Corie Smith return after combing to be the Bulldogs' top finishers in each race in 2022.
Fresno State men
The men's team features a five-man squad with returners Juanathan Reyes and Christian Santana. Yu Chen Yong joined the team after joining the track team last spring.
IN THE FRESNO STATE TOP 25
Three Bulldogs who rank inside the program's Top 25 return for this year. Corie Smith (9th) and Shaylee Grimm (16th) in the women's 6k and Juanathan Reyes (9th) in the men's 8k.
STAYING IN CALIFORNIA FOR AWHILE
The Bulldogs' schedule will see them run their first four races in California, beginning with Friday's meet in San Francisco. Fresno State will also run in meets in Riverside, Lodi and Sunnyvale. That will lead into the Mountain West Championships on Oct. 27 in Boise, Idaho before returning back to the Golden State for the NCAA West Regional in Sacramento.