Aug. 30, 2014
San Francisco, Calif. ----- The San José State University men's cross country team placed third out of six teams at the University of San Francisco Invitational in Golden Gate Park.
Ben Branagh led the Spartans on the 8k course finishing 12th overall in a field of 85 runners with a time of 25:43.3. Jannik Ernst also finished in the top-20. Ernst was 17th with a time of 26:00.7.
Josue Gonzalez (26:09.6, 20th), Craig Huff (26:36.4), Matthew Stephens (26:48.7, 38th), and Ian Young (28:39.5, 72nd) rounded out the San José State finishers.
The Spartans edged Santa Clara, 106 to 110 for third place.
"The men came up with good victories over Santa Clara and San Francisco. Both those teams were considerably better than us last year," said San José State assistant cross country and track and field coach Brad Wick. In the same race last year, the Spartans finished fifth out of six teams. "With the addition of freshmen Josue Gonzalez and Craig Huff, we were able to keep our 1-5 spread right around a minute which is what we were shooting for at this meet."
Yohaness Estifanos of Cal led the field with a time of 25:07.3. Cal took the first three positions to win the team competition with a score of 25. Stanford, with individual runners finishing fourth and fifth, was second.
San José State's next race will be in Fresno, Calif., at the Fresno State Invitational on Friday, October 5.
University of San Francisco Invitational
8,000 Meters
Speedway Meadow, San Francisco, Calif.
August 30, 2014
Team Results
1. California 25
2. Stanford 30
3. San Jose State 101
4. Santa Clara 107
5. San Francisco 118
6. Cal State Northridge 163
Individual Leaders
1. Yohaness Estifanos, California 25:07.3
2. Chris Walden, California 25:07.4
3. Leland Later, California 25:14.5
4. Garrett Sweatt, Stanford 25:26.4
5. Michael Atchoo, Stanford 25:26.4
San Jose State Finishers
12. Ben Branagh 25:43.3
17. Jannik Ernst 26:00.7
20. Josue Gonzalez 26:09.6
33. Craig Huff 26:36.4
38. Matthew Stephens 26:48.7
68. Ian Young 29:05.4