Cross Country Improves at SCIAC Multi-Duals: Women Ranked 9th in West Region
Whittier College Cross Country had a strong showing in the first
SCIAC competition of the season, the SCIAC Multi-Duals at La Mirada
Park on October 18. Two Poet women finished in the top 10 as
they finished tied for third place (4-3) while the men had a pair
among the top 25 on their way to a fifth place finish
(3-4).
The women's third place finish is a huge improvement from 2007's
sixth place showing. The Poets beat Cal Lutheran, Caltech, La
Verne and Occidental. Their performance moved Whittier into
ninth place in the Division III West Region rankings. There
were 103 runners competing on the 6,000-meter course. Michele
Callaway '12 and Darlene Partida '10 finished just over three
seconds apart in 8th and 9th places,
respectively. Callaway finished in 23:24.40 and Partida in
23:27.91. Molly Litherland '12 was the next Poet across the
finish line in 22nd place with a time of 24:08.62.
Candace Wray '12 was 30th in 24:30.46 and Eva Aguilar
'12 rounded out the Poets' scoring in 36th place,
reaching the finish line in 24:44.66.
The men also improved on last year's finish, jumping from seventh
to fifth. Their three wins came against Cal Lutheran, Caltech
and La Verne. There were 89 runners in the field for the
8,000-meter race. Thomas Martinez '11 was the top Poet
finisher in 22nd place. He crossed the finish line
with a time of 28:02.92. Sean Arps '12 was just two spots
behind Martinez in 24th place with a time of
28:09.86. Juan Bustos '12 and Kevin Mancilla '12 took
32nd and 33rd places in 28:24.93 and
28:29.74, respectively. Travis Airola '12 was the fifth Poet
to score in 38th place, crossing the finish line in
28:42.71.
The Poets have the SCIAC Championships next on their
schedule. They look to continue their climb up the conference
ladder at Prado Park in Chino Hills, Calif., on November 1 at
9:00am.
