Cal Poly Pomona Broncos

LA JOLLA – It’s been a year of firsts for the Cal Poly Pomona men’s cross country team.

The Broncos broke through the nation’s top 20 three weeks ago for the first time since 2006. And on Saturday, CPP earned its second title -- a first since 2005 -- winning the UC San Diego Triton Invitational, raced on the UCSD campus.

Led by Lake Arrowhead junior Matt Prentice’s second-place finish, the 18th ranked Broncos won the meet with 29 points. The last time CPP won a men’s event was the Redlands Invitational in 2006.

“This was the first test on a national basis because regionals and the national meet will be run over 10,000 meters,’’ Broncos coach Troy Johnson said. “It’s a preview of things to come. All of our guys stepped up at different times and to have four inside the top eight and seven inside the top 18 is a great day.’’

Prentice covered the 6.2-mile course in 31 minutes, 59.6 seconds. Senior Jersain Torres (Anaheim) finished fourth (32:18.1) and junior Stephen Kent also broke through in the top five (32:18.7).

“Good things are going to happen when you pack toward the top,’’ Johnson said. “Matt saw that he was up front and he responded.’’

Senior Mariano Baez was the fourth Bronco to finish inside the top 10, placing eighth in 33:16.9. Junior Jose Marques was 13th (33:51.4), Jose Lara 15th (34:11.6) and sophomore Clint Hostetler was 18th (34:22.0).

Other Broncos competing were: 35th Rene Vidal (35:24.5); 37th Chris Vordahl (35:26.5); 50th Luis Briseno(36:23.0) and 71st Brian Roser (38:16.5).

Senior Tiffany Turner (La Crescenta) was the top Bronco for the women’s team with junior Amber Hebb (Alta Loma) right beside her. Turner was seventh (22:37.6) and Hebb eighth (22:44.9) as CPP finished fifth with 95 points in the 6,000-meter race.

Both are returning All-CCAA runners and look forward to the conference meet that will be held at Humboldt State in two weeks.

“Tiffany is determined to remain our top runner and Amber is hungry to be our top runner,’’ Johnson said. “Our women have put in the time and the effort this fall and they are prepared to run well at the CCAA meet.’’

Juniors Sarah Garcia (Placentia) and Elizabeth Soria (Chino Hills) cracked the top 30, placing 26th (23:43.0) and 27th (23:44.4), respectively.

Freshman Tiffany Dinh (Norwalk) completed the Broncos’ top five at 33rd (23:57.5).

Other Broncos were: 45th Lauren Parr (24:39.8); 46th Denise Salceda (24:40.6); 77th Johanna Murray (26:37); 99th Julia Manzo (28:10.5); 105th Denise Lopez (28:50.6).