The 2021 men's cross country season is under way and a handful of programs in the Orange Empire Conference have gotten off to a quick start. With mostly freshmen on all of the squads, a couple of programs have risen to the top.
Saddleback had a sensational start, finishing a close second at the Tour de Cuesta and first at the College of the Canyons Invite. The lone team to beat them in the opening meet was Hartnell, a program that has been consistently at the top of the heap in the Northern California ranks. The Bobcats then went to the Biola Invitational, but left their top harrier at home in finishing third among community college programs.
The Bobcats are led by freshman Nathan Trueman, who finished first in both of his meets.
Riverside City College has a long history of success in cross country. The Tigers won a state title in 2016 and are eager to get back into the winner's circle. Riverside finished third among the teams at the Redlands Invitational, but were competing against four-year programs. RCC then had a sensational performance at the Biola Invitational, finishing first among the community college programs and sixth overall with 21 teams in attendance.
Riverside has been led by sophomore Mario Tavares, who finished first among all of the community college harriers at both of the events.
Orange Coast was a power in men's cross country in the early part of the century and the Pirates look as if they could be back on the rise. OCC finished right behind Riverside at the Biola Invitational, finishing second among the 10 community college programs in attendance. Orange Coast was led by freshman Hector Espana, who finished eighth among community college athletes at the meet.
Fullerton has an all-freshman lineup this fall and the Hornets finished fourth among the 10 community college programs at the Biola Invitational. Fullerton was led by Ivan Vargas, who finished sixth among the community college harriers at the meet.
Most of the teams in the Orange Empire Conference are expected to be on hand for the first real look at one-another at the Golden West Invitational on September 24, with the lone exception being Riverside. The Tigers opted to schedule the Master's College Invitational on the 25th.
Release by Brad Hoiseth, Saddleback SID