GCC men, women both take second
GLENDALE — The men’s and women’s cross-country teams from Glendale Community College finished on equal footing Saturday at Woodward Park in Fresno at the Fresno Invitational, although neither could catch Orange Coast College in their respective races.
Led by a first-place finish from Nina Moore in 18 minutes 24 seconds and a second-place finish by Brianna Jauregui in 18:37, the Vaqueros women were edged out by just three points, 41-44, in a race that came down to the final 400 meters.
Frankie Quijado was seventh overall in 21:36 as the top finisher for the Glendale college men, who finished with 114 points to Orange Coast’s 36 in an early-season meeting of the top junior college teams in California that serves as a preview of the state meet to be held at the same site in November.
“It was a good day with both teams getting second,” Glendale college Coach Eddie Lopez said. “[Moore and Jauregui] have a lot of experience on this course and it showed. …They pulled away at the end.”
Some of the Vaqueros’ top duo’s experience at Woodward comes from the fact that the CIF state meet, among other high school events, is annually held there and Moore and Jauregui both starred at cross-country powerhouse Saugus High.
Another decorated former Centurions standout, Katie Dunn, missed her second straight race for the Vaqueros. The sophomore captain is nursing a sore back and hip.
“The team doctors said they wanted her to rehab more,” Lopez said. “At this point in the season, we’ve gotta be able to go with Katie or without her.”
The Vaqueros’ top five was rounded out by Rosa Del Toro (11th, 19:26), Diana Sanchez (19:35) and Karen Rosas (19:48).
“Our other girls ran well too,” Lopez said. “They need more experience.”
Quijado was followed by Francis Herrera (17th, 21:42), Rico Gutierrez (28th, 21:53), Adrian Anderson (30th, 21:58) and Matan Mayer (35th, 22:04).
“We really had a good pack,” Lopez said of the men’s squad. “I’d rather they come up at the end than start strong and [tire] at the end.”