2021 SF State Invitational Results
SAN FRANCISCO – Academy of Art's women's and men's cross country raced at Golden Gate Park for the second time in as many weeks, going up against some of the strongest runners in the NCAA Division II West Region at the SF State Invitational on Friday. The third-place women were led by senior
Natalia Novak and redshirt junior
Audrey Rosencrans both inside the top six while junior
Saba Khvichava paced the fourth-place men once again with a top five finish.
For the second consecutive race, Novak was the first Urban Knight to cross the finish line, logging a 22:03.4 (over 30 seconds faster than her mark last week) through the 6k for third individually and just six seconds off the top finisher. Rosencrans delivered a strong kick down the final stretch, taking sixth overall (fifth toward team scoring) with a time of 22:12.5. Inside the top 20 was graduate student
Hasna Kaarour whose 22:34.4 earned her 16th overall (15th toward team scoring). Rounding out the ART U quintet was freshman
Lina Hanich with a 23:08.6 for 33rd (29th toward team scoring) and sophomore
Delanie Dykes' 23:12.8 in 36th (32nd toward team scoring).
Just two teams finished ahead of the No. 17 Urban Knights (84) including No. 11 Simon Fraser (36) and No. 15 Chico State (60). Immediately back of ART U was fellow Pacific West Conference competitor Concordia (96) along with Cal State East Bay. SFU's Olivia Willett captured the individual win with a time of 21:57.6.
"The women's race was solid, but we definitely have work to do," Interim Head Coach
Bruce Jackson said. "I thought we were able to get an early West Region preview, seeing a couple of nationally ranked teams ahead of us like Chico State and Simon Fraser. To be close to those teams was encouraging even if it wasn't our best day. We just want to continue to improve."
Among a large contingent of Chico State runners, Khvichava claimed fifth overall (fourth toward team scoring) with a time of 24:48.7 (more than a full minute faster than his mark last week). In 14th overall (13th toward team scoring), graduate student
Owen Day crossed the finish line at 25:36.2 while junior
Hudson Lockette's 25:48.4 helped him push for 25th overall (19th toward team scoring). The Urban Knights' top five was rounded out by graduate students
Abdelouakil Mustapha in 78th overall (52nd toward team scoring) and
Elliot Slade in 101st (62nd toward team scoring).
As a team, the ART U men's squad tied for fourth with host SF State as each squad combined to for respective 150 totals. Victorious among the men's teams was No. 4 Chico State (24) followed by Simon Fraser (49), who had the top finisher in Aaron Ahl (24:30.6), and Concordia (123). NCAA Division I schools Santa Clara and St. Mary's were back of Academy of Art.
"On the men's side, I was very happy with our effort," Jackson said. "It was the first real great run for Saba so that was great for him to be up there in the top five. I'm just happy with the growth the men have shown early on this season and there's still room to improve as well."
The Urban Knights will next be in action at the Sacramento State Invitational held at Johnson-Springview Park in Rocklin.
