UCLA
NCAA West Regionals
Men Fifth, Women 12th at NCAA West Regionals
November 10, 2017 | Cross Country
Seattle, Wash. – The UCLA men's and women's cross country teams raced at the NCAA West Regional Championships Friday, with the UCLA men finishing fifth overall and the Bruin women taking 12th. Sophomore Garrett Reynolds led the men's squad with a 14th-place finish on the 10k course, and sophomore Cassandra Durgy paced the UCLA women with a 51st-place showing in the 6k competition.
Reynolds' 10k performance saw him continue his streak of placing as UCLA's first or second runner in each of the competitions in which he has competed this season. He finished 14th overall with a time of 29:50.1 and earned All-Region honors. Senior Daniel De La Torre crossed as UCLA's second runner, finishing 33rd overall with a time 30:13.6.
Junior Jackson Marshall (30:18.4), redshirt sophomore Colin Burke (30:18.4), and senior Myles Smith (30:19.5) combined to go 38-40 to complete the Bruins' Top-5. Redshirt sophomore George Gleason crossed the line as UCLA's sixth runner, taking 43rd overall with a time of 30:23.3. Rounding out the Bruins' squad was redshirt freshman Carter Blunt, who finished in 76th place and a 10k time of 31:09.4.
"I am very pleased with the result today," said assistant Coach Devin Elizondo. "We will have to wait and see the official word on our bid to Nationals but I felt we put a great effort forward. Washington had a special day on their home course and we ran strong with Oregon, without one of our top guys."
Portland took home the NCAA West Regional men's team title, placing three runners in the Top-4 and finishing with 63 points. Portland sophomore Emmanuel Roudolff-Levisse won the race with a time of 29:33.1. UCLA finished with 164 points, good for fifth place.
"We were able to give Robert Brandt a rest and it looks like, if everything goes well with the selection committee, we will have a group qualify to the NCAA Championships," said Elizondo. "If that's the case, it will be due to the hard work and the character of this group of young men. It is an effort that stands on its own, and in light of racing without Robert, is a special run."
The UCLA women were led in the 6k by Durgy, who crossed as the Bruins' top runner for the first time this season. Her time of 20:52.1 was good for 51st place. Sophomore Claire Markey was close behind, finishing 56th with a time 20:55.2 in only her second competition of the season. Freshman Erika Adler took 60th overall with a time of 20:58.3.
"The women ran a courageous race and implemented the plan of pack-running the best I have seen all year," said assistant coach Jennifer DeRego. "Adler was spiked early in the race, dripping blood down her shin, and garnered her strength with help from her front runner teammates (Durgy and Markey)."
Junior Jackie Garner (21:23.4) was the Bruins' fourth runner at 85th overall, and freshman Christina Rice (21:33.0) filled out UCLA's scoring five with a 92nd-place finish. Fellow freshman Kira Loren finished with a time of 21:39.1, good for 101st place. Senior Jessica Cushing-murray rounded out the Bruins' Top-7 in 124th place and a time of 21:56.6.
"Overall, I couldn't be more proud and excited for the future of this team," said DeRego. "They gave it all today."
The University of San Francisco (59 points) won the women's team title, with Don senior Charlotte Taylor winning the 6k competition with a Jefferson Park course record time of 19:14.2. UCLA finished 12th with 142 points.
At-large selections for the NCAA Cross Country Championships will be announced on Saturday, Nov. 11. The NCAA Championships will take place in Louisville, Ky. on Saturday Nov. 18.
2017 NCAA West Regional Championships
Nov. 10, 2017 – Seattle, Wash.
Men's Results – Team 5th (164)
14. Garrett Reynolds (29:50.7)
33. Daniel De La Torre (30:13.6)
38. Colin Burke (30:18.4)
39. Jackson Marshall (30:19.4)
40. Myles Smith (30:19.5)
43. George Gleason (30:23.3)
76. Carter Blunt (31:09.4)
Women's Results – Team 12th (342)
51. Cassandra Durgy (20:52.1)
56. Claire Markey (20:55.2)
60. Erika Adler (20:58.3)
85. Jackie Garner (21:23.4)
92. Christina Rice (21:33.0)
101. Kira Loren (21:39.1)
124. Jessica Cushing-murray (21.56.6)
Players Mentioned
