Hundreds of miles have been logged this season by each member of the Cal Poly Pomona cross country teams. And all of the hard work, sweat and pain will be put to good use Saturday as both teams compete at the NCAA West Region Championships in San Francisco.
The top three men’s teams and the top four women’s teams will advance to the NCAA Championships in Evansville, Ind., later this month.
“Since September, our practice and meet-day efforts have been geared toward Saturday’s race,’’ said assistant coach
Tony Reyes. “Both of our teams have put in the time and the effort with positive results. We’ve had great workouts and we’ll be ready to go. ’’
The women’s 6,000-meter race begins at 9 a.m. and the men’s 10,000-meter race is at 10 a.m. in historic Golden Gate Park, located just east of San Francisco State University.
The 16th-ranked Bronco men have been nationally-ranked since late September and currently hold down the third spot in the West Region USTFCCAA rankings. CCAA champion Chico State and GNAC champion Western Washington are ranked ahead of the Broncos in both polls and look to be the favorites in the race along with the Broncos.
“We’re not looking at Saturday as we’re ranked third and they’re taking three to nationals,’’ Broncos coach
Troy Johnson said. “We have the type of team that’s capable of winning. Our guys train to win.’’
The Bronco boast four All-CCAA runners from two weeks ago – senior
Jersain Torres (Anaheim), junior
Matt Prentice (Lake Arrowhead), senior
Mariano Baez (Los Angeles) and junior
Stephen Kent (Canyon Country) – and look to earn CPP’s first trip to the NCAA since the 2006 season.
Torres placed third in the CCAA meet (25:01.3 over 8,000 m) raced in McKinleyville and Prentice fifth (29:09.8). Baez ran perhaps the finest race of his career and finished ninth (25:38.4).
“It’s been a blessing that Mariano has really stepped up his effort,’’ Reyes said.”He’s a senior and knows that there aren’t many races left. He was within 20 seconds of Matt and he’s run his best at the right time.’’
Kent completed the race 13th in 25.50.6.
The Golden Gate Park Speedway Meadow Park features a flat terrain and has a “lap’’ layout, as opposed to an “out-and-back’’ type race. That plays well into both teams’ practices and previous meet experience.
“McKinleyville really was our only hilly course that we’ve run all year,’’ Reyes said. “I don’t think that really is our forte. Our teams are confident knowing that Golden Gate Park is comparable to what we train and race during the season.’’
Torres, a two-time All-CCAA runner, owns a personal-best 32:18.7 10,000-meter time set this year at UC San Diego. His work with Reyes, a seven-time All-American in both cross country and track and field for Cal Poly Pomona nearly 30 years ago, has been instrumental in his success.
“I personally feel lucky to have him as my coach,’’ said Torres of Reyes, who remains the school record holder in both the mile and 3,000-meter steeplechase. “In my two years I’ve improved a great deal over my times at Santa Ana (Junior College). We set big goals and he’s always right in what it takes to reach them. Having him as my coach is a big motivator. I would love to run faster than he did when he ran here.’’
The women are led by the one-two punch of senior All-American
Tiffany Turner (La Crescenta) and junior
Amber Hebb (Alta Loma). Both repeated as All-CCAA runners two weeks ago and Turner looks to repeat as an All-Region competitor. She placed 13th at last year’s region meet in La Jolla.
Both Johnson and Reyes say the two Bronco runners have the ability to break through the top 15.
“We have to run to our potential,’’ Johnson said. “It’s too tough to get to nationals on an individual basis. It needs to be a team effort.
“We’ve run 6Ks all year long; the only thing that changes this week is the intensity. They’ve trained just as hard as the guys.’’
Turner finished sixth in the CCAA and Hebb placed ninth. CCAA Freshman of the Year
Tiffany Dinh (17th) has come on strong in her initial season.
“Tiffany (Dinh) is so mentally competitive,’’ Reyes said. “She’s the one newcomer who has had the most impact on our team. Tiffany (Turner) and Amber most certainly are right there in contention for all-region honors. And it seems
Sarah Garcia (Placentia) keeps reaching personal bests whenever she runs.
“We need Sarah and
Elizabeth Soria to keep together to complete our top five.’’
Turner has run her best in big-time meets. Last spring, she finished eighth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the NCAA Track and Field Championships. She, too, gives a lot of credit to Reyes.
“He knows what it takes to be the best,’’ Turner said. “His experience running at an elite level helps. When I run his workouts, they’re designed to be intense. If I can get through one of his workouts, I can certainly get through a race.’’