NIPOMO, Calif. - UC Riverside Cross Country traveled to Cal Poly's new course on the Blacklake Golf Course in Nipomo, also the Big West Championships site later this fall, to down five Big West programs on the way to a second-place finish in the women's competition, while taking fifth place on the men's side.

Women's Results | Men's Results

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Linda Perez and Collette Lowengrub finished first and second respectively in a field of 105 student-athletes. Perez, the meet's individual champion and a sophomore crossed the tape at 17.35.5, followed by her teammate Lowengrub, junior, with a time of 17:38.2, earning one and two points for their team respectively.
• Noah Murasmith led the Men's team with a time of 18:32.7, which earned him an 11^th place finish in a field of 111 competitors.
• Murasmith was followed by Joshua Mendoza, who finished 18^th overall with a time of 18:38.3.

HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS

• The women's team were bested only by their hosts and reigning Big West Champions, the Cal Poly Mustangs.
• Perez and Lowengrub finished almost a full eight seconds in front of the next student-athlete to cross the tape.
• Distance Coach Zach Newsom reflected on the days' races saying, "We kept things at a controlled effort for the most part today due to it being early in the season and the main goal was just to get a look at the course." He continued, "I was pleased with how both teams moved up through the field during the race and showed some good fitness. I'm looking forward to being back on this course in October to see how far we've come!"

UP NEXT

• UC Riverside will compete next at home in Riverside, hosting the UCR Invitational at the Ag/Ops Course on September 16, with races starting at 7:15am. Live results for the UCR Invitational can be found on the 2023 UC Riverside Cross Country schedule at GoHighlanders.com.