Women's Cross Country Has Best Ever Finish At MW Conference Championship

Oct. 31, 2015

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Meet Results

RENO, Nev. - San José State University women's cross country team finished eighth out of 11 teams at the Mountain West Conference Championship on Friday, for the best finish at the championship meet since joining the league in 2013. The Spartans were the top finisher among sea level schools, placing ahead of San Diego State, UNLV and Fresno State.

The 6K championship race on the hilly Montreux Golf Club situated approximately 5,600 feet above sea-level, included six of the top-15 NCAA women's cross country runners.

The talent stacked field required looping around the hills three times on the race course, challenging even the best in the nation.

"It was a tough race with the altitude but we beat three schools that come from sea level," said Spartans cross country coach Brad Wick.

Jennifer Beckingham once again led the Spartans placing 21st overall with a time of 24:16.72. Beckingham improved by 33 spots from last year's conference championship meet when she placed 54th overall.

"We're happy how we did as a team. I found the altitude really tough but I'm really happy with the results considering I wasn't used to it," said Beckingham.

The next two finishers for the Spartans were freshmen Ashley Cahalan and Jeanette Zambrano, placing 41st and 51st with times of 25:05.72 and 25:31.95. For Cahalan, it was the first time finishing second on the team this season.

"Ashley did an excellent job of working her way up through the pack," said Wick.

Junior Melanie Fujiwara was the fourth Spartan to score as it was her season best finish among Spartans. Fujiwara finished 57th overall, completing the course in 25:52.28.

"Melanie stepped up and really helped us out," said the third-year coach.

Freshman Adilene Aldapa rounded out the top-five scorers for the Spartans finishing 59th, five seconds behind Fujiwara at 25:57.74.

Seniors Lalida Maokhamphiou, Jenay Jauregui and Diana Orozco finished 61st, 71st and 76th, respectively.

Maokhamphiou ran her fourth conference championship meet, including the Western Athletic Conference championship in 2012 where she placed 50th. She placed 75th and 74th in her two previous Mountain West Conference Championship meet as this year's 61st place result was her best.

Allie Ostrander, the top-ranked NCAA women's cross country runner, won the race with a time of 21:49.97.