The University of Redlands cross country teams competed in the NCAA West Regional Championships at Pomona-Pitzer Colleges on Saturday morning, earning a pair of All-Region performances in sophomore Maria Ramirez (Orange, CA) and junior Joseph Esparza (Arcata, CA). Overall, the Bulldog women earned a ninth-place showing with an average time of 23:39.24 on the 6k course, while the Redlands men took 11th by averaging 27:22.06 in the 8k.
Ramirez led the Bulldogs with her fourth-place time of 21:50.07, which was just one second off of the Redlands school record. Due to her top-35 effort at the regional race, she garners All-Regional honors and looks forward to competing in the NCAA Division III Championships on November 18.
Senior Kaylee Jorgensen (Claremont, CA) ran the final race of her collegiate career with a time of 23:16.83 to finish 37th at the regional meet. She was just six-tenths off of her career-best effort.
In addition, Redlands produced three more runners among the fastest 75 in the region. Junior Ellie Ramsey (Waterbury, VT) uncorked a career-best time of 24:05.84 for 53rd place, while sophomore Carly Veasy (Camas, WA) registered a 66th-place time of 24:25.53. Finally, senior Emily Guthormsen (Morgan Hill, CA) left it all on the course in her final cross country race with a time of 24:37.92 to take 73rd.
In addition, freshman Brigit Laughlin (Orange, CA) and sophomore Sarah Shipway (Lafayette, CA) put up solid times of 24:49.91 and 24:58.39, respectively.
Esparza paced the Bulldog men by crossing the finish line in 26:12.34 in 20th place for All-Region honors. He sits on the bubble as to qualifying for the national meet and will await the official announcement from the NCAA, which is due tomorrow morning.
Freshman Henry Tucker Cargile (Denver, CO) offered a solid time of 26:52.02 to finish 39th in his first-ever regional meet, while junior Benjamin Casey (Highland Park, IL) completed the race in 27:39.82 for 68th place. Freshman Trevor Brouelette (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA) made his debut at the regional competition with a time of 27:51.21, while senior Sean Unger (Carlsbad, CA) completed his final cross country race in 28:14.87 for 85th place. Finally, sophomore Nolan Ridgeway (Long Beach, CA) and freshman Quentin Olive-Larson (Fort Collins, CO) rounded out the Maroon and Gray runners with consecutive times of 28:26.67 and 28:29.55.
Redlands looks forward to cheering on Ramirez and hopefully Esparza at the NCAA Division III Championships, which take place on November 18 in Eslah, IL.