CSUN Women 2nd, Men 10th at Cross-Country Nationals

Cal State Northridge Coach Don Strametz was emotionally drained after the NCAA Division II cross-country championships at Lake Perris in Riverside County on Saturday.

He was pleased after the Lady Matadors finished second but frustrated with the men’s 10th-place effort.

“This day has been a emotional roller coaster for me,” a weary Strametz said after the women’s race.

“I’m really happy because the women ran so well but the men’s race was frustrating. I’m not sure how I should feel.”

Here’s why.

The CSUN women, led by the all-American performances of freshman Darcy Arreola and senior Nancy Bowman, was runner-up for the second straight year.

West Regional champion Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, led by Gladees Prieur’s individual victory, placed three women in the first six and five in the top 29 to win its fifth straight title with 39 points. CSUN scored 93 points and Seattle Pacific finished third with 99.

Mankato State (153) and Springfield College (169) rounded out the top five teams.

Arreola finished 11th with a 17:37 clocking over the 5,000-meter course and Bowman placed 13th with a 17:41 effort.

Tina Cheney (30th in 18:14), freshman Teresa Poy (34th in 18:19) and Heather Brookes (48th in 18:37) rounded out the Lady Matadors’ scoring.

The times by Bowman, Poy and Brookes were personal bests for the course and Cheney’s time equaled her best.

Arreola was pleased with her race but said that she felt sluggish. “I felt tight. My mile split was over 10 seconds slower than regionals and yet I felt more tired today.”

Dave Walsh had the same feeling in the men’s race.

The West Regional and California Collegiate Athletic Assn. champion, Walsh came into the meet with a realistic goal of finishing in the top 10, however, he only finished 38th.

At the mile mark (4:33) Walsh appeared to be running comfortably with the lead pack that included eventual winner and defending champion Samson Obwocha of East Texas State. But shortly thereafter he began to lose his rhythm and fell off the pace.

While Obwocha went on to win his second consecutive title in 30:52, Walsh faded and finished in 32:49.

Wilbert James (44th in 32:53), freshman Derik Vett (58th in 33:06), Craig Ingram (66th in 33:16) and Dane Costley (87th in 33:56) rounded out the Northridge scoring.

Edinboro (Pa.) State won the team title with 56 points and defending champion South Dakota State finished second with 79. CSUN totaled 242 points in 10th.

“It’s really frustrating because I can’t put my finger on it,” a dejected Walsh said. “Before the race I felt like I was ready mentally but I just didn’t run well. If I had run the same time today that I ran at regionals (31:34), I would have finished seventh.”

“I came through the mile in 4:33 and I felt terrible. At regionals I came through in 4:34 and felt like I was jogging. I don’t know what happened.”

Strametz did. “I think Dave was too pumped up,” he said. “The men’s team was just out of sync. I noticed it yesterday but there’s not much you can do about it.”

He also said that the Matadors had peaked at the West regionals. “We had to peaked in order to qualify for nationals and we were just flat today.”

The results would seem to confirm that as all seven of the CSUN men ran faster at regionals.