Aztec Invitational : Arizona’s Woods Ends San Diego Streak

It may have taken four years, but the University of Arizona’s Andre Woods is finally leaving San Diego crowned a champion.

The senior cross-country standout ran a strong final two miles to win the 43rd Aztec Invitational Saturday at Balboa Park. Woods covered the tough 10,000-meter course in 30 minutes and 25 seconds and led the Wildcats to their eighth Aztec Invitational team title.

Carole Roybal of the New Mexico won the women’s division over 5,000 meters in 17:13. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo won the women’s team title.

Woods ended a career of frustration at Balboa Park on Saturday. As a sophomore, he led until the final 100 yards, when he was passed by four runners. Last year, Woods finished seventh.

Usually found forcing the pace, Woods stayed close, but didn’t challenge the leaders until he was ready to take the lead in the final miles. David Barney and Kevin McKarey, running unattached and Aaron Ramirez of Arizona helped force a quick pace of 14:22 through the first three miles. At the four-mile mark, Woods finally moved into fourth place.

“This was the first time I went out conservative,” Woods said. “After four miles, I felt the top three guys coming back to me. I didn’t feel like I was running that hard, but I was really moving up on the hill.”

Woods moved up and pulled away. He opened the race’s biggest lead, about 30 yards, as the runners raced along the sidewalk on Sixth Avenue.

“The sidewalk on the last 400 was pretty tough,” said Woods, a native of Las Vegas. “I thought those guys were going to make a run at me.”

Nobody was within striking distance of Woods, however. And even if there was, it probably would have been one of his teammates. Arizona dominated the race, placing three runners in the top four.

In the women’s division, Roybal sat back for almost all of the 5,000 meters and allowed UC Irvine’s Jenifer Abrahams to be the pacesetter. But Roybal ran down the leader in the final 200 yards to win going away. Abrahams finished second in 17:15.