The Riverside City College cross country team swept the team competition at the 2017 Orange Empire Conference Finals on Thursday in Mission Viejo. The Tigers left no doubt that they will be a force to be reckoned with next weekend at the Southern California Regional Finals.
Riverside showed up with 11 runners for the women's race and 27 for the men, making for an onslaught of Tigers crossing the finish line. Riverside started by taking the women's race with four of the top six runners in the field before the men had seven runners finish in the top-10.
The Lady Tigers were led by Sarah Hollis, who scorched the competition by finishing the 4-mile trek in 18:25.9. She was close to 40 seconds ahead of the second place finisher, Jennilee Reyes (19.:05.6) from Orange Coast. Riverside's Robin Valencia was all set to take second place but had to double back after missing the gate, costing her precious seconds and finishing third (19:09.5).
Other Tigers finishing in the top-15 were Samantha Chapa (5th, 20:03.7), Carissa Gomez (6th, 20:10.8) and Sujey Esteva (14th, 21:14.6). All five runners for Riverside were named to the All-Orange Empire Conference Team as a result of finishing in the top 14 runners in the race.
Riverside will race again next weekend at the Southern California Regional Finals in Santa Clarita. The All-Orange Empire Conference Team follows.
Runner of the Year – Sarah Hollis, Riverside City College
Coach of the Year – Damien Smith, Riverside City College
First-Team
Sarah Hollis, Riverside City College
Jennilee Reyes, Orange Coast College
Robin Valencia, Riverside City College
Sara Fleming, Saddleback College
Samantha Chapa, Riverside City College
Carissa Gomez, Riverside City College
Maricruz Vargas, Fullerton College
Second-Team
Mary Curran, Orange Coast College
Sierra Pilarski, Saddleback College
Andrea Anaya, Santa Ana College
Monique Azpeitia, Santa Ana College
Cassidy Nyenhuis, Fullerton College
Madison Markey, Santiago Canyon College
Jaylynn Vega, Santa Ana College
Team Scores:
Riverside, 29
Saddleback, 67
Orange Coast, 75
Fullerton, 93
Santa Ana, 98
Golden West, 157
Santiago Canyon, DNQ
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