In its first multi-team meet of the 2014 season, the Seattle University cross country team showed the progress it has made over the past three weeks as it competed in the Sundodger Invitational, hosted by the University of Washington at Lincoln Park.
Sophie Curatilo (Honolulu, Hawaii) was the top Seattle U finisher in the women’s six-kilometer invitational race, crossing the finish line in 17th place overall with a time of 21:44, 12 seconds quicker than her mark in this event last year. Taylor de Laveaga (Gilbert, Ariz.) finished in 21st place in 21:58, 39 seconds faster than last year’s time.
“I had a good race, but the women’s team ran really solid today. Even though we graduated two of our scoring runners from last year and had another one sit out today due to injury, we had a solid scoring five, and all 11 women ran well today. We are really excited to see where the team goes as we start racing every other week,” de Laveaga, one of the cross country team captains, said after the meet.
Elena Smith (Seattle, Wash.) improved eight seconds over the past year, finishing in 27th place in 22:32, followed by Emily Hedberg (Phoenix, Ariz.) in 30th place with a time of 22:53, an improvement of over one minute since the last time she ran in this event two years ago. Moira O’Connor Lenth (Seattle, Wash.) crossed the finish line in 36th place in 23:38, just ahead of Madison Davis (Camano Island, Wash.) in 37th place in 23:39.
Freshman Johanna Erickson (Edgewood, Wash.) performed well in her first major collegiate competition, posting a time of 24:34 to finish in 44th place, followed by Rebecca Lassere (Boise, Idaho) in 45th place in 24:45. Lindsay Frederick (Seattle, Wash.) finished in 47th place in 25:07, with Meghan Arigo (San Luis Obispo, Calif.) in 48th place in 25:14 and Haley Kruell (Portland, Ore.) in 50th place with a time of 25:24.
In the men’s eight-kilometer invitational race, Gus Arroyo (Portland, Ore.) finished in 21st place with a time of 25:24, followed by Baxter Arguinchona (Spokane, Wash.) in 22nd place in 25:30. Freshman Chay Weaver (Louisville, Colo.) made a late charge, moving up into 29th place with a time of 25:50, with classmate Matthew Seidel (Santa Clara, Calif.) close behind in 30th place in 26:01.
Ben Monk (Olympia, Wash.), another freshman, finished in 34th place with a time of 26:09, with Louis Rodrigues (Alameda, Calif.) crossing the finish line in 39th place in 26:26. Joseph Nakao (Sammamish, Wash.) posted a time of 26:43, good enough for 41st place, and Collin Overbay (Spokane, Wash.) finished in 44th place with a mark of 27:00.
“I went out very hard, towards the back of the first pack. It was pretty tough in the middle laps, but I was faster in the final mile, so overall a good day,” Arguinchona, also a team captain, said. “This was the first 8K for our freshmen, but based on some of the times I have been hearing, they handled it real well. It was good to shake some of the rust off and get into racing season. Gus and I have to work on running out in front, but I think we will get there.”
In the team standings, both the men and the women finished in fourth place in their respective events, with the men totaling 107 points and the women collecting 89 points.
The Seattle University cross country team will head south to Blue Lake Park in Fairview, Ore., for the Viking Cross Country Classic, hosted by Portland State University Saturday, Oct. 4. The men’s seven-kilometer race is scheduled to begin at 12 noon, followed by the women’s four-kilometer event at 1 p.m.