The Mt. SAC Women's Cross Country Team delivered a stellar performance at the Oxnard Invite on Friday, September 6. With a combined time of 1:40:15 and a team score of 30, the Mounties claimed first place in the 5k event, outpacing competitors from Sequoias, Moorpark, Glendale, Oxnard, Santa Monica and other institutions.

The College of the Sequoias took second place overall with a total time of 1:45:19 and a team score of 76, while Moorpark College finished in third place with a total time of 1:45:59 and a team score of 86.

Mt. SAC's performance was both impressive and cohesive, with several team members finishing one right after the other. Arielle Mckenzie crossed the finish line with a time of 19:59.3, earning a fourth-place finish individually. Close behind her were teammates Ava Cornell, who finished fifth place with a time of 20:00.2 and Jasmine Brandyberry, who took sixth place with a time of 20:01.7. Yadira Arnold followed in seventh place with a time of 20:04.9 and Kaitlyn Reyes secured eighth place with a time of 20:09.2. Maya Estrada-Garcia finished ninth place with a time of 20:14.5, and Rebekah Cueva rounded out the top 11 with a time of 20:23.4.

This victory was particularly impressive as it came just one week after the Mounties did not place in their first meet of the season. Their quick turnaround and decisive win at the Oxnard Invite are a testament to their grit and determination.

Head Coach Giovanni Lanaro praised the team's performance saying, "The women did a great job in Oxnard, working together to achieve the win. We had five women finish within three seconds of each other and the top nine women are within nine seconds of each other. This year's team is a close-knit group, and that's what it takes for them to push each other to their best. We are looking forward to our race on Friday as we get to line up against the top schools in Southern California."

The Mt. SAC Women's Cross Country Team is back on track and committed to secure their fourth state title championship. They will compete in the SoCal Preview, hosted by Chaffey College, on Friday, September 13.

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