Pepperdine University
WCC Preview Meet
Cross Country Teams Get Early Look at WCC Championships Site
9/13/2014 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country
SUNNYVALE, Calif. - The Pepperdine cross country teams got an early look at the site of the West Coast Coast Conference Championships as they ran in the WCC Preview Meet hosted by Santa Clara on Saturday morning.
Junior Katie Engel (Honeoye Falls, N.Y./Honeoye Falls-Lima HS) is 2-for-2 leading the women's team to the finish line this year, something she's done in six of the last eight races dating back to last season. The men were led by freshman Rudy Gonzalez (Whittier, Calif./California HS).
"We came up here the intent of learning a few things and preparing for the WCC Championships, and I think we accomplished that," Pepperdine Coach Robert Radnoti side. "In the men's race we wanted to run as a pack, and some of them were able to do that. I'm really pleased with the performances of our freshmen again. Rudy ran really strongly despite getting rocks in his shoes. I don't know how he did that but he's a tough runner. Our men's team is getting stronger and I'm excited about the development of the team."
Gonzalez came in 45th place in the men's 8K with a time of 26:19.9. Also scoring for the Waves were freshman Kyle Cajero (Tucson, Ariz./Pusch Ridge Christian Academy), sophomore Gordie Thomas (Fallbrook, Calif./Great Oak HS), freshman Kevin Maeda (Highland, Calif./Citrus Valley HS) and freshman Nicholas Serrao (Laguna Niguel, Calif./Dana Hills HS).
Engel came in 24th place overall with a time of 22:11.4 in the women's 6K. That was seven seconds faster than her time last year on the Baylands Park course. She was followed by senior Lisa Santroch (Shoreline, Wash./Shorewood HS), sophomore Ellie Smith (Annapolis, Md./Broadneck HS), freshman Terra Atwood (Mission Viejo, Calif./Mission Viejo HS) and sophomore Sydney Gray (Bellingham, Wash./Meridian HS).
"We only had five women's runners because of injuries and illnesses," Radnoti said. "We don't have the depth right now that we'd like to have. Katie and Lisa both ran pretty well. They still have a ways to go, and they know it, but they continue to work hard. This was a good step for Ellie. The women are coming along.
"I'm proud of our teams and their development, and I'm pleased with what we did at the preview meet, and I hope it pays off in six or seven weeks at the conference meet."
The women came in eighth place out of 11 teams, while the men were sixth out of eight.
The Waves will next be in action in two weeks at the Stanford Invitational on Sept. 27. The WCC Championships are on Nov. 1.
