UCLA
NCAA Championships
Men’s Cross Country Wraps Up Season at NCAA Championships
November 18, 2017 | Cross Country
LOUISVILLE, K.Y. – The UCLA men's cross country team finished its 2017 campaign at the NCAA Championships in Louisville, taking 21st overall with 485 points. Junior Robert Brandt paced the Bruins with an 88th-place finish.
"While the result on paper is not the number we were racing toward, to establish places up front through the first half of the race is a step forward in the evolution of the team and the program," said assistant coach Devin Elizondo. "Every year the goal is to compete at the NCAA meet and every year we will look to improve in the standings. Today was a lesson in what it takes to race in an individual Top-40 finish. This is where we must improve."
The NCAA Championships saw Brandt, a transfer from Cal, lead the men's squad for the third time in his debut campaign. He finished the 10k with a time of 30:34.4. Redshirt sophomore Colin Burke finished in 103rd place in a time of 30:44.9, an improvement of 38 spots from his performance at the national meet in 2016. Sophomore Garrett Reynolds crossed as the Bruins' third runner, finishing 121st with a time of 30:54.8.
"I am very pleased with how all the guys fought to help the team," said Elizondo. "Robert, coming off a leg injury and sitting out last week, gave a strong effort up front. Garrett has been instrumental in leading our charge from our first race through today. Colin Burke has just started feeling like himself these last few weeks and it showed in his performance, arguably his best showing of the year.
Senior Myles Smith capped off his collegiate career with a 127th-place finish, finishing with a time of 30:57.28. Junior Jackson Marshall was the last scoring runner for UCLA, clocking a time of 31:00.41, good for 136th place. Redshirt freshman George Gleason (31:15.88) and senior Daniel De La Torre (31:18.30) finished 164th and 171st, respectively, to round out the Bruins' squad.
"George Gleason found a groove in his first appearance at the national meet, helping to share the load of the pack," Elizondo remarked. "I cannot say enough about the veterans, Jackson Marshall, Daniel De La Torre, and Myles Smith. Their passion and dedication to the team's success is why we have been in a position to accomplish our many accolades."
The top-ranked men of Northern Arizona (74 points) won their second consecutive National Championship Saturday, placing three runners in the Top-8. Syracuse senior Justyn Knight won the individual title with a time of 29:00.1.
The women's 6k Championship Race saw New Mexico take home the team title, placing three runners in the Top-10. The Lobos also produced the individual champion as sophomore Ednah Kurgat won the race with a time of 19:19.5.
2017 NCAA Championships
November 18, 2017 – Louisville, K.Y.
Men's Results – Team 21st (485)
88. Robert Brandt (30:34.36)
103. Colin Burke (30:44.99)
121. Garrett Reynolds (30:54.79)
127. Myles Smith (30:57.28)
136. Jackson Marshall (31:00.41)
164. George Gleason (31:15.88)
171. Daniel De La Torre (31:18.30)
Players Mentioned
