In a final tune-up before the Golden State Athletic Conference Championships this coming Saturday, Westmont men’s and women’s cross country teams traveled north to participate in the Santa Clara Invitational on Saturday.

The men’s squad placed twelfth out of 17 teams, twelve of which were from NCAA Division I schools, despite missing Andrew Dixon and All-American Aaron Megazzi who were unable to compete because of bouts with the flu. Senior Robby Cherry was Westmont’s top finisher completing the course in 25:29 which earned him a twenty-seventh place finish out of 158 competitors, the second best finish by an NAIA athlete at the event. Freshman Jacob Goodin was Westmont’s second finisher, claiming sixty-sixth place in a time of 26:16.

The women’s team competed in two divisions, the faster invitational division and the open division. Three-time All-American Anna Stumbo was also suffering from flu symptoms and was unable to participate. Senior Lisa Griego was Westmont’s top finisher in the individual division, posting a time of 18:12 and claiming thirty-fifth place. Due to an injury, Griego has been unable to compete since the UCSB meet on September 1. Freshman Katie Fritzke was second across the finish line for Westmont, completing the course in 18:50 for sixty-sixth place. As a team, Westmont placed fourteenth out of 16 teams which were all NCAA Division I schools except for Westmont and Cal State Los Angeles.

In the open division, Westmont freshman Lexi Aprahamian finished first for Westmont, taking thirty-first place in a time of 21:02. A foursome of Warriors, made up of Courtney Connors, Lindsey Connollly, Courtney Dixon and Mary Schuberg finished in thirty-third to thirty-sixth place.

Saturday’s GSAC Championships will take place at 4:00 p.m. in Fairview Park in Costa Mesa and will be hosted by Vanguard.

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