SAN FRANCISCO — The University of San Francisco men's and women's cross country teams both began their 2019 seasons Saturday with impressive performances on their home course, as the women finished second as a team and the men placed three individuals among the top-10 in the 27th Annual USF Invitational at Golden Gate Park.
WOMEN
Aoibhe Richardson led San Francisco in her USF debut with a runner-up finish in the women's 6-kilometer race. San Jose State's Jenny Sandoval ran out to a huge lead of nearly 20 seconds, but Richardson ran her down in the final two kilometers. Sandoval was able to hold off Richardson for the victory in 21 minutes, 38.3 seconds, but it was only by one second at the end. Richardson (21:39.3) and Sandoval distanced themselves from the rest of the field by more than 20 seconds.
Elissa Mann also had a strong USF debut, finishing as the Dons' No. 2 runner and eighth overall in 22:07.4. All of the Dons' top-four runners Saturday were newcomers, as freshman
Eve Jensen (16th, 22:19.9) finished alongside transfer
Anna Tait (17th, 22:21.8) to give USF four in the top-20. Senior Josien Sheepens was the Dons' fifth scorer with a time of 22:32.9 in 26th place.
The Dons' top-five packed impressively on the season's opening day, posting just a 53.7-second spread between their scorers. USF finished second as a team behind California, who had four finishers in the top-10 and all five scorers in the top-12 to score 38 points against the Dons' 69. San Francisco defeated West Coast Conference foes Saint Mary's (4th, 79 points) and Santa Clara (6th, 138).
MEN
Senior
Hugh Nicklason and transfer
Andy Snyder ran shoulder-to-shoulder to finish fifth and sixth, respectively, in their first race of the season. Freshman
Caleb Haugland also had a standout debut, finishing ninth and dipping under the 26-minute mark in the men's 8 km, finishing ninth in 25:52.3.
Daniel Maneloveg finished 32nd in 26:37.3, and
Hiruy Alemseged was USF's fifth scorer in his Dons debut, finishing 61st in 28:19.2.
San Francisco finished fifth as a team with 93 points. California won the men's race to sweep the day, placing all five of its scorers in the top-20 for a winning score of 56 points. The Dons topped East Bay rival Saint Mary's, who was sixth with 136 points.
COMING UP
San Francisco will take a week off before traveling to UC Davis for the inaugural Stump Invitational on Sept. 13.
