Records Fall For Pacific Cross Country
Another busy weekend for Pacific's Cross Country team saw the girls split into two teams and compete at both the Hornet Jamboree and the Pepperdine Invitational.
Sophomore Dale Dong (Stockton, Calif.) led the Tigers at the Hornet Jamboree in Sacramento, covering the 5km course in a new personal record of 21:42.
Sophomore Jessica Guerra (Stockton, Calif.) followed with a strong race even after being stung by a bee on the racecourse. Sophomore Ashley Keeline (Chula Vista, Calif.) and senior Cassidi Rush (Gilbert, Ariz.) competed well in their first race of the season after returning from early season injuries.
In Malibu, Calif. at the Pepperdine Invitational, Pacific competed strong and fast on a turn filled technical course and in hot conditions.
The race gave Pacific a chance to compete against West Coast Conference teams and race the conference championship course. Sophomore Lindsay Wourms (Camas, Wash.) led the Tigers in a new school record of 22:15, breaking the previous one, which she held, by eight seconds.
Sophomore Becky Grabow (Carson City, Nev.) also ran a strong race, setting a new personal record by 15 seconds. Freshman Megan Hall (Rocklin, Calif.) had a fast, competitive race in her career first 6K.
Hall, in particular, found the Pepperdine event to her liking.
"It was a surprisingly enjoyable race, the extra 1K wasn't too bad, and I may have found a new favorite distance, keyword, maybe."
Pacific also set a new school record for overall time at the Pepperdine Event. Coach Jones was pleasantly surprised with the results.
"We went into this meet not so much focused on times or places, but more on form and feeling strong. Knowing that, I was very surprised at how our girls ran; we have records broken, personal record's broken, and girls very close to their PRs."
Jones also was pleased with how the team has come together early in the season.
"Another big surprise was how the girls were able to break their overall team time so early in the season and while missing two runners. The ladies ran very well for having heavy legs and I look forward to how we will finish at the end of the season."
Pacific will next be on the course, next Saturday, September 21st at the Mills Invite in Oakland, Calif.