CARMEL, Calif.--- Graduate students Nick Brichta and Rosa Granados both turned in All-CCAA performances as the Cal Poly Humboldt Lumberjacks turned in a pair of solid team results at the 2022 CCAA Championships at Palo Corona Cross Country Trail this morning.
On the men's side, Brichta's 25:19 8k over the rolling hills and trails was good enough for 12th, securing an All-Conference spot, which is awarded to the top-15 individuals in each race. He was the first All-CCAA performer for the Jacks since Daniel Tull in 2019. Brichta was followed by a top 30 finish by Ricardo Torres (22nd, 25:49) and a top 40 finish by Sebastian Vaisset-Fauvel (35th, 26:24) who passed nearly 30 runners from beginning to end. Jaxon LeDuc (44th, 26:32) and Carson Smith (45th, 26:33) finished within a second of each other to give the Lumberjacks five scorers within the top 50. Carson Cohn (49th, 26:47), Aris Valerio (57th, 27:03), Luis Sandoval (59th, 27:05), Julian Jensen (62nd, 27:13) and Asher Love (63rd, 27:14) rounded out the Jacks pack as the team placed fifth, their highest finish at the conference meet since head coach Jamey Harris took over.
"That was a huge improvement over last year," Harris said. "The men exorcised a few demons today. Still, we think we can do better at Regionals."
No. 6 ranked Chico State won its 20th consecutive CCAA title, scoring 20 points to distance themselves from No. 22 Cal Poly Pomona. Cal State San Marcos placed third while Stanislaus finished 4th, 17 points clear of fifth place Humboldt. The Wildcat's Rory Abberton took individual honors with a new course record of 24:45.
In the women's race, Granados ran with experience and poise to finish fifth in a 6k time of 21:39 and improve upon her All-CCAA performance from last fall. She was followed by Isabel Perez-Zoghbi who finished in 23rd, (22:57). Reese Sion (37th, 23:29) Kayla Penny (51st, 24:22) and Jessica Hill-Roddick (59th, 24:37) rounded out the scorers for the Jacks.
"The women ran really well," Harris said. "Rosa had a phenomenal performance to get fifth and almost across the board we had our best performances of the year.
Also running for Humboldt were Alexa Amador (62nd, 24:50), Sophie Smith (63rd, 24:56), Emilie Cates (68th, 25:13), Mariska Kessler (78th, 26:32) and Serena Smith (86th, 29:40). The Lumberjacks also ran without one of their top athletes, Saedy Williamson, who did not compete due to illness.
"We missed Saedy, but we can be proud of the way we competed today," Harris said.
As a team, the Jacks finished sixth behind Cal State San Marcos. No. 7 Stanislaus State took their second consecutive team title, out-pacing the 15th ranked Wildcats of Chico State. No. 29 Cal State East Bay and Cal Poly Pomona finished third and fourth respectively. Stanislaus's Kaela Dishon won her second consecutive conference title to lead the Warriors.
The Jacks will return to action two weeks from now when the team's travel to Billings, Mont. to compete at the 2022 NCAA Division II West Region Championships, hosted by Montana State Billings, on Saturday, Nov. 19.
For more information about Humboldt Cross Country, please visit our website at www.humboldtathletics.com and follow our social media accounts!
