SPRINGFIELD, Ore. - UC Riverside Cross Country competed at Friday morning's Bill Dellinger Invitational, held at Pine Ridge Golf Club in Springfield, Oregon. 

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• UCR's men's squad delivered a sixth-place finish in Oregon as the top Big West team in the field, six points clear of Cal State Fullerton. UC Riverside placed as high as fifth, pulling into a top five positioning at the 5k split.  
• Joshua Mendoza (30th, 23:47.40) and Ashraf Abdelmagid (32nd, 23:48.60) were instrumental in the Highlanders' push after the midway point, each jumping over 10 spots at the 5k split.  
• Tyler Kaan (67th, 24:26.50) and Andrew Castellon (40th, 23:58.10) were the third and fourth Highlanders on the men's side. 
• Collette Lowengrub (35th, 20:57.70) was the leader of six Highlanders on the women's side, placing 35th overall and second among Big West student-athletes.  
• Makayla Anderson (82nd, 21:52.20) placed 125th after 1,000 meters before improving her standing with each split and finishing in 82nd. Joy Weber (92nd, 21:55.90) and Ingrid Tamayo (99th, 22:01.40) also pushed for top 100 finishes in Oregon.  

NOTABLES 

• Mendoza turned on the afterburners following the 1k split and gradually made his way up the results list for a 30th-place finish after being in 70th through 1,000 meters.  
• Abdelmagid, Castellon and Mendoza all put up new personal bests.  

UP NEXT 

• UCR returns to action with the second of two home meets on the season, hosting the Highlander Invitational on Saturday, October 19 at the Ag/Ops Course.