Cross Country Hosts Bronco Invitational Saturday Morning

The Santa Clara women's team enters the Bronco Invitational on the strength of two consecutive third-place finishes. (Photo: Paul Davidson)
The Santa Clara women's team enters the Bronco Invitational on the strength of two consecutive third-place finishes. (Photo: Paul Davidson)

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Santa Clara cross country is set for its final competition prior to championship weekend as host of the SCU Bronco Invitational Saturday morning. The meet will begin at 8:45 a.m. with the men's collegiate invitational 8-kilometer race at Baylands Park in Sunnyvale, California. The women's collegiate invitational 6-kilometer race gets underway at 9:30 a.m. Men's and women's open races will be run at the same distances and start at 10:15 a.m. and 11 a.m., respectively.

The men's invitational race features seven regionally-ranked teams in the most recent USTFCCCA poll (Oct. 2), including nationally-ranked UCLA (No. 25). There are nine regionally-ranked teams on the women's side, including three receiving votes in the national poll (Cal, Oregon State, UCLA).

"We are really looking forward to this year's Bronco Invitational. The fields are very competitive and we always look forward for the opportunity to compete in front of friends and family," head coach Felipe Montoro said. "Our teams always get a lot of support from the athletic department and campus community – something that we truly appreciate."

RACE DAY LINKS

Meet Info
Click Here
Entries Click Here
Live Results Red Cap Timing
Directions Click Here


Men's College Invitational 8K | 8:45 a.m. | 191 Total Entries | National/Regional Rankings Denoted for Division I Programs

Teams Represented: Biola, Cal Poly (10 - West), Cal (12 - West), Central Arizona, Chico State, Eastern Washington, Fresno State, Grand Canyon, Houston, Idaho (15 - West), Loyola Marymount, Northern Colorado, Pepperdine (13 - West), Portland State, Sacramento State, Saint Mary's, San José State (11 - West), Santa Clara, Seattle, UC Davis, UC Santa Barbara, UCLA (25 - NCAA/7 - West), UTEP (15 - Mountain)

SCU Entries: Aaron Brumbaugh, Ben Davidson, Jack Davidson, Jorge Estrella, James Konugres, Brennan Lagerstrom, Zach Litoff, Evan Misuraca, Xander Olivero, Christian Raslowsky

The Broncos had a tough day of racing at the Notre Dame Joe Piane Invitational on Friday, Sept. 29, finishing in 16th place of 17 teams. Zach Litoff took 46th place with a 24:51.9 on the 8-kilometer course at Burke Golf Course. Aaron Brumbaugh, James Konugres, Jack Davidson and Christian Raslowsky also scored for the team.

Santa Clara hit a milestone mark early in the 2018 season on Monday, Sept. 17. The Broncos were ranked 11th in the NCAA West Region by USTFCCCA, one spot higher than their previous best mark of 12 in 2017.

Jack Davidson became just the third Bronco in program history to break the 8-kilometer 24-minute mark at last year's Bronco Invite, posting a 23:52.9 to take 10th place overall. Litoff and Ben Davidson also scored for the team at last year's meet.

Coach Montoro: "This year's men's team has been working together really well in practice, as well as in races. That is our number one objective on Saturday, to have as small a spread from one through five as possible."

Women's College Invitational 6K | 9:30 a.m. | 228 Total Entries | National/Regional Rankings Denoted for Division I Programs

Teams Represented: Biola, Cal Poly (8 - West), Cal (RV - NCAA/10 - West), Chico State, Eastern Washington, Fresno State, Gonzaga, Grand Canyon, Houston (13 - South Central), Idaho (9 - West), Loyola Marymount, Northern Colorado, Oregon State (RV - NCAA/6 - West), Pacific, Pepperdine, Rice, (11 - South Central) Sacramento State, Saint Mary's, San José State (12 - West), Santa Clara, Seattle, Stanislaus State, UC Davis, UC Santa Barbara, UCLA (RV - NCAA/7 - West), UNLV, UTEP, Wyoming (11 - Mountain)

SCU Entries: Hannah Covington, Jamie Ferris, Sarah King, Ellie Kopf, Emma McCurry, Janie Nabholz, Noelani Obermeyer

The women's team returns to action on the heels of third-place finishes at the BYU Autumn Classic (Sept. 15) and Montana Invitational (Sept. 28). Emma McCurry led Santa Clara in its first two major events of the season; the USF Invitational (Sept. 1) and BYU meet. Noelani Obermeyer paced the team in Montana.

Santa Clara returns its top two finishers from last season's Bronco Invite. Then-freshmen Ellie Kopf led the team and Janie Nabholz took second among Broncos.

Associate Head Coach Pete Cushman: "This is a big weekend for us. We get a first or second look at some of the competition in the WCC and a final test prior to the conference championships. We have to narrow the roster down to nine, and this will be a good opportunity to see who is at their best and who makes us better in two weeks. There's a lot of depth and a lot of women on our team who have the ability and certainly can make those decisions difficult."

Men's Open Race 8K | 10:15 a.m. | 315 Total Entries

College Teams Represented: American River, Biola, Cal State East Bay, Cal State Maritime Academy, Cal State Monterey Bay, Chabot, Chico State, City College of San Francisco, Dominican, Fresno Pacific, Hawai'i Pacific, Holy Names, Humboldt State, Loyola Marymount, Merritt, Notre Dame de Namur, Pepperdine, Saint Mary's, San Francisco State, San Joaquin Delta, San José City College, Santa Clara, Seattle, Simpson, Stanislaus State, UC Santa Barbara, UC Santa Cruz

SCU Entries: Daryon Baynard, Austin Blankenship, Wilder Boyden, Ross Corey, Luke Davies, Aditya Mohan, John O'Hagan

Women's Open Race 6K | 11 a.m. | 307 Total Entries

Teams Represented: American River, Biola, Cal State East Bay, Cal State Maritime Academy, Cal State Monterey Bay, Central Arizona, Chabot, Chico State, City College of San Francisco, Dominican, Fresno Pacific, Hawai'i, Holy Names, Humboldt State, Laney, Loyola Marymount, Merritt, Mills, Notre Dame de Namur, Oregon State, Pacific, Pepperdine, Rice, Saint Mary's, San Francisco State, San Joaquin Delta, San José City College, Santa Clara, Sierra, Simpson, Sonoma State, Stanislaus State, UC Santa Barbara, UC Santa Cruz, UCLA

SCU Entries: Kalen Abe, Carolina Avelar, Cecilia Avelar, Titilola Bolarinwa, Claire Cocales, Julia Green, Khiely Jackson, Bevin McCullough, Sophia Morris, Kayla Neumann, Hannah Rehm, Marisa Sanchez, Lucie Semone, Lacey Yahnke

MORE INFORMATION

Baylands Park Address: 999 E Caribbean Drive, Sunnyvale, CA 94089

There is no charge for admission.

Parking is $6 per car and $20 per bus in the Baylands Park lot. Those attending are encouraged to park in the Baylands lot, not in a lot for any of the local businesses near the park. Parking in any lot other than the Baylands lot is at your own risk. There is no credential required for team staff members nor media.

CONNECT WITH THE BRONCOS ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Athletics: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Snapchat (SCUBroncos)
Cross Country/Track & Field: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

GO BRONCOS!