2017 SF State Invitational Results

SAN FRANCISCO – A beautiful day out at Golden Gate Park was accented by strong third-place results for both the men's and women's cross country teams from Academy of Art University. Friday's SF State Invitational saw ART U employ successful pack running on the women's side where the top five finished in the top 22 qualifiers and a trio in the top 17 led the men's squad.

The women's 6k race initially looked to be a battle of packs with No. 7 California Baptist and the Urban Knights in the front group, but the Lancers would command first place with the top four individual finishers and all five qualifiers in the top seven. ART U, who bested host SF State for third, would find itself edged by Humboldt State in the end despite the aforementioned collective squad among the top 22.

Sophomore Swann Phelippeau took 11th overall with a time of 22:21.7, knocking over two minutes off her debut time at the PacWest Preview. Junior Giulia McIsaac was not far behind in 13th, delivering a career-best 22:32.2, and senior Jamie Morris, gutting out the final stretch to the finish, ended up less than a second behind her teammate in 14th (22:32.5) with a career-best as well. The fourth and fifth Knights to cross the line were senior Beatriz Martinez Mercado as the 20th (23:06.5) individual qualifier and senior Madeline Dignadice as the 22nd (23:11.3). Both times were lifetime bests.

The men's 8k competition closed out the day and it was again Academy of Art racing a familiar foe in No. 8 California Baptist as well as Western Oregon (ranked 10th in the West Region to No. 3 CBU and No. 6 ART U). Despite the race's individual winner coming from WOU, the Lancers claimed the team crown after their five qualifiers finished in the top eight. Western Oregon took second and the Knights collectively topped Cal State East Bay for third.

Graduate student Gatien Airiau stayed with the front pack throughout and earned third individually with a 25:05.2. Edging a Lancer in the final seconds, graduate student Victor Moreau came across in 14th (25:40.0) while graduate student Freddie Hessian pushed to 18th (25:46.9). Sophomore Marvin Thomas posted a 26:24.0 for 32nd overall and redshirt junior Brett Bermudez closed out the qualifiers with a 26:57.9 in 46th.

Academy of Art will return to action next weekend at Sacramento State's Capital Cross Challenge on Sept. 30.