Team Results (Men | Women)
Individual Results (Men | Women)

Riverside, CA – For its season-opening meet, Academy of Art University Cross Country headed down to south to Rancho Jurupa Park to compete in the Lancer Invitational. McKaela Christenson's second place finish led the women's squad to third overall while the fourth place men's team was guided by Top 15 marks for Brett Bermudez and Austin Esposito.

"We didn't run full squads on either gender, but we saw some good competition from our younger athletes," head coach Torrey Olson said. "We have time before our conference meet and regionals, but if we put in the necessary time and effort, the achievements that are possible with this group are really significant. Everyone is very excited about what the team can do."

Much like her freshman debut on this same course (4th place), Christenson was a major highlight for the Urban Knights, turning in a 14:18.71 good for second behind UC San Diego's Corinne Hinkle. Christenson, who suffered an injury that kept her out of every 2013 race thereafter, cut more than 10 seconds off her time from last season.

NCAA Regionals qualifier Kaelyn Harbison claimed the eighth spot overall, offering a time of 14:38.57 on the 4k course. Harbison showed just how far she had come in a single season, dropping more than 44 seconds off the time she saw as freshman in 2013.

Elizabeth Khuu and Ericka Taylor came in as a pair (23rd and 24th) with times of 15:25.8 and 15:26.23 respectively while Emily McCarty took 27th (15:47.23). Schae Graham was also in action for the first time at the NCAA Division II level. As a team, the Knights finished third wedged between UCSD and Cal State San Bernardino.

For a men's team ranked pre-season #10 in the West Region by the USTFCCCA, several runners made their collegiate debut including Bermudez who ended up 14th overall with a time of 19:04.80 on the 6k course. Esposito was right behind him in 15th sporting a time of 19:08.2 and Logan Means followed with a 25th place result (19:33.94).

Maurilio Sanchez (41st), Gage Benner (44th), and Austin Murray (46th) each had their first taste of running against NCAA Division II competition as well.

Academy of Art will be back in action on Thursday, Sept. 18 when they joins SF State and Cal State East Bay in a tri-meet at Golden Gate Park.