FULLERTON, Calif. – The Chaminade University men's and women's cross country teams wrapped up their 2019 seasons Saturday at the Pacific West Conference Championships at Craig Regional Park.
In the women's 6-kilometer race, the Silverswords received 297 points for a ninth-place finish, the program's highest since also finishing ninth in 2012 championships.
Alena Albertson (Austin, Texas/Cedar Park) continued her spectacular freshman season by placing 25th overall in the field of 95 runners, the best individual finish by a 'Sword since Emily Ochsner placed fourth in the '12 race. Albertson broke the tape at 23:02.24 and just missed being included in the top-21 of whom are selected for the All-PacWest Teams.
Olivia Mariucci (Templeton, Calif./Templeton) finished 64th in 24:39.18 followed by
Eri Leong (Las Vegas/SECTA) at 26:40.32.
Riley Hallman (Renner, S.D./Tri-Valley) completed the course in 27:18.07 followed by
Alicia Dugan (Renton, Wash./Peninsula College/Kentridge HS) at 27:36.75 and
Montserrat Lanfranco (Honolulu/Roosevelt) at 27:54.04.
The 'Swords placed higher in the championships than Hawai'i Hilo (finished 10th) meaning they earn two points in the PacWest Hawai'i Challenge. Hawai'i Pacific earns the first-place points with its eighth-place finish.
Fresno Pacific won the women's title with 62 points with Academy of Art's Hasna Kaarour being the individual winner at 21:22.85.
In the men's 8-k, Chaminade placed 10th with 274 points, just two behind ninth-place Holy Names.
Beau Larsen (Papillion, Neb./Daniel J. Gross Catholic) paced the Silverswords with a 62nd overall finish in 30:07.64.
Elijah Bernardo-Flores (Waipahu, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Kamehameha-Kapalama) finished at 30:53.04, the first of four consecutive 'Swords to next cross the line. He was followed by
Peyton Oshiro (Honolulu/Hawai'i Baptist Academy) at 30:58.18,
Joseph Yoakum (Gibraltar, Mich./Wayne State/Carlson HS) at 32:10.23,
Matthew Schmidt (Hanalei, Kaua'i, Hawai'i/Hawai'i Technology Academy) at 32:59.11 and
Rocco Deangelo (Mebane, N.C./Southern Alamance) at 34:03.74.
Co-host Biola captured both the team and individual championship with 21 points and Gabe Plendcio breaking the tape at 25:09.71.
