BRONCO INVITATIONAL
Date: Oct. 14, 2023
Time: 8:45 a.m. – Men's 8k Invite; 9:30 a.m. – Women's 6k Invite; 11:00 a.m. – Women's 6k Open
Location: Baylands Regional Park, Sunnyvale, Calif.
Live Results: Red Cap Timing
FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State cross country teams will head to a familiar course on Saturday, competing in the Bronco Invitational on Saturday at Baylands Regional Park. It will be the Bulldogs final race before competing at the Mountain West Championships in two weeks.
A LOOK BACK
The Bulldogs were last in action two weeks ago, competing in the Pacific Invitational. Corie Smith paced the 'Dogs with a ninth-place finish, crossing the line in 21:54.3. Just behind her was her freshman teammate Khushleen Khakh who finished the 6k in 21:58.4.
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Following her performance at the Pacific Invitational, Khushleen Khakh was named Mountain West Freshman of the Week. She is the first Bulldog to earn a weekly honor from the conference since Sept. 21, 2021.
Khakh finished 10th in the 6k with a time of 21:58.4, her highest finish of the season. The time was the freshman's best of the year and moved her up to No. 20 on the program's all-time list.
A PLACE TO SET TOP TIMES
Fresno State athletes have had a history of setting personal bests Baylands Regional Park. On the women's side, nine of the program's Top 25 times in the 6k were recorded at the site.
The No. 2 time on both the program's women's 6k and men's 8k lists were set at Baylands.
'DOGS IN ACTION
21 'Dogs will be competing on Saturday.
Women's squad - Gianna Chiaramonte, Diana Cortes, Walker Douglas, Rain Gomez, Shaylee Grimm, Morgan Hutchison, Mia Jauregui, Khushleen Khakh, Ashley Ochoa, Janae Penner, Ximena Ramos, Crystal Raya, Jennifer Recinos, Corie Smith, Kylie Ward
Men's squad - Cory Ford, 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 combining to be the Bulldogs' top finishers in each race in 2022.
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.
STAYING IN CALIFORNIA FOR AWHILE
The Bulldogs' schedule will see them run their first four races in California beginning 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.