(Walnut, CA) With Fall sports gearing up, the Mt. SAC Men's Cross Country team is closing in on its first meet of the season.

The team returns after the cancellation of the 2020 season hiatus, due to Covid-related measures.

With the first action since November of 2019 when the team finished third in the CCCAA State Championships, the men will compete in the annual Cal State University, Fullerton Mark Covert Classic at Carbon Canyon Regional Park in Brea, Saturday, September 4.

After five meets through the month of October, the team will compete in the 73rd Annual Mt. SAC Cross Country Invitational.

The Mounties won the team and sweepstakes titles in 2019.

Next up are the South Coast Conference and Southern California championships at Compton and Irvine, respectively, before the CCCAA State Championships at Woodward Park in November.

"After a full summer gathering and preparing, the men and women are eager to compete and unite as one team committed to excellence on and off the field," Mt. SAC Men's Cross Country coach Ron Kamaka said. "The men will be driven by 2019 All-American sophomores, Daniel Abdala and Zack Alexander."

In the 2019 CCCAA State Championships, Abdala finished sixth in the state and Alexander was 11th.

"Both men have worked hard over the off-season and will rely on their experience in big races to mentor a class of eager and talented freshmen runners," said Kamaka, who joined the Mt. SAC staff full-time as a professor in 2006. "Frosh runners Jesse Alvarado, Elijah Ocegueda, and Yair Torres are expected to add great strength and depth to the magic five, while others will be on their heels grinding for a spot in the top seven."

Kamaka continued, "....team chemistry is positive and both men and women are learning to think, act and run as a unit. Practice looks promising, but the real test of teamwork comes in the competition.

"How well we run to be our best while encouraging the team to succeed, will be the measure that defines us. We have promising expectations to become a unified team, which is essential to overcome the challenges we'll face from across the state."

Follow Mt. SAC Cross Country on Twitter @MtSAC_XC

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For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.