UCLA
TMU XC Invitational
Cross Country Takes a Pair of Victories at TMU Invite
September 30, 2017 | Cross Country
SANTA CLARITA โ The UCLA cross country team stayed local for the Master's University Invite in Santa Clarita, posting impressive performances at Central Park as the Bruin men won the 8k competition while the UCLA women took home a victory in the Division I 5k (third among all teams).
The Bruin men kicked off the early morning action and dominated the 8k field, taking the team victory with redshirt sophomore Millen Trujillo winning the race. The rest of UCLA's Top 7 finished in the Top 10 in the Division I competition and the Top 15 across the complete field of teams.
Trujillo took home the victory in a time of 25:01.5, a course record on the new TMU Invite 8k course. Redshirt freshman Andy Ehrenberg took full advantage of his UCLA debut, finishing fourth in DI and eighth overall in a time of 25:19.1. In just his second collegiate race, junior Scott Snow took sixth in DI and 10th overall, clocking a 25:27.5. Redshirt sophomore Arturo Sotomayor and redshirt freshman Tyler Janes went seven-eight (11-12 among all teams) to round out the Bruins' Top 5 and secure the meet victory, clocking times of 25:29.9 and 25:30.7, respectively.
Congrats to @MillenTrujillo, who set a course record in winning the #TMUInvite! pic.twitter.com/0zAScBVbW7
โ UCLA Cross Country (@UCLAXC) September 30, 2017
"They were out kind of fast but settled into a nice, comfortable pace and had a nice pack going," said assistant coach Devin Elizondo. "The goal was to move in that third lap, which was the last mile and a half of the race, and they did that. They were able to find teammates, in pairs and in packs, and it was evident today. It shows when you can put seven men in the Top 15, three in the Top 10, and have the race winner, so that's a great feather in the cap for Millen."
Junior Cole Smith was the sixth runner for the Bruins, finishing ninth in the Division I competition and 13th overall with a time of 25:36.3. Redshirt freshman Riley Kelly rounded out UCLA's Top 7 with a 10th-place DI finish (15th place overall), finishing in a time of 25:40.5 which was good for a one-minute PR. Senior Max Davis completed the Bruins' full squad, finishing with a time of 26:33.1.
The UCLA women's squad was made up of entirely underclassmen, and the squad placed their entire Top 7 in the Top 15 in the Division I race to secure the DI victory (third among all teams).
True freshman Kira Loren led the way for the Bruin women, placing third in DI and 16th overall in a time of 18:18.0 on the 5k course. Redshirt freshmen Daniela LoCastro (fourth) and Lucie Semone (fifth) were close behind, finishing in times of 18:28.2 and 18:29.1, respectively in the DI race. LoCastro and Semone also took 18th and 20th overall, respectively. Alyson Jimenez followed, as the redshirt freshman took sixth in Division I and 23rd overall with a time of 18:35.5. Freshman Jacquelyn Hill completed the Bruins' Top 5, finishing 10th in the DI competition and 33rd overall with a time of 18:56.6.
Freshman Paige Carter took home an 11th-place finish in Division I and a 36th-place finish overall with a time of 18:59.5. Sophomore Madison Moore rounded out the UCLA Top 7, clocking a 19:21.2 time, good for 54th overall and 14th in Division I.
"They stuck to the race plan where they moved up at the two-mile mark and then it was pretty much just guts from there to the finish," said assistant coach Jennifer DeRego. "I'm really proud of the work they've been putting in and it's showing."
Also competing for the Bruin women were redshirt freshmen Taylor Beaudoin and Carlyn Schmidgall, who finished with times of 19:33.9 and 19:49.2, respectively.
"What I saw throughout the race from start to finish was a pack of women that ran together," said DeRego. "They utilized the power of each other and running together. They were eager to get running because a lot of them are brand new. They want to be traveling, so they want to be up there."
UCLA cross country will be back in action for the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational on Friday, Oct. 13.
Players Mentioned
