Pepperdine University
Bronco Invitational
Waves Show Improvement at Bronco Invitational
10/17/2009 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country
MALIBU, Calif. - Pepperdine's women's cross country team placed eighth and its men's team finished 11th Saturday morning at the Bronco Invitational, hosted by Santa Clara University at Baylands Park in Sunnyvale, Calif.
Sunnyvale didn't always live up to its name today as the Bay Area experienced five weather changes from the time setup began at 6:45 a.m. until the end of the second men's race.
The women's race took place under cold, windy and foggy conditions, but the sun came out in time for the men's events.
Junior Chelsea Wishard once again was the Waves' top runner, completing the flat and fast 5K race with a 12th-place time of 17:43. Her time was between 10 and 15 seconds faster than last year's mark on the same course.
"I'm excited by the progress our women's team has made," head coach Robert Radnoti said. "We finished one place behind Santa Clara today, so I hope we can sneak past them in two weeks at the West Coast Conference Championships."
Sophomore Lauren Lodge posted another good race as usual and finished in 18:08. She was followed by sophomores Elizabeth Coe (18:39) and Hannah DeWalt (18:41) and junior Danielle Varela (19:00).
"I think we're lined up very nicely for WCCs," Radnoti said. "We're going to start Lodge's taper soon so that she can come on strong at the end. Hannah has been making good progress as we continue to transform her from a middle distance to a cross country runner, and Danielle was today's step-up performer."
Freshman Wesley Blundell led the Pepperdine's men's team for the second straight competition, finishing the 8K course in 25:30. Blundell was the WCC's second fastest freshman at Saturday's race; the WCC was represented by five of its schools, including Santa Clara, San Francisco, Saint Mary's and San Diego.
Blundell was followed to the finish line by sophomore Kenny Smith (25:40), junior Seth Allison (25:83), junior Conrad Wozniak (26:06) and senior Garrett Reim (26:27).
"Today was another solid performance from our men's team," Radnoti said. "We're just going to keep plugging away going toward the conference meet."
Pepperdine returns to action next Friday for the Titan Invitational, hosted by Cal State Fullerton. Races begin at 5 p.m.
