Sept. 30, 2017
Sacramento, Calif. - For the second event in a row, the San José State women's cross country team dominated with three runners finishing among the top five en route to its second win of the season.
On Saturday, at the Capital Cross Challenge, Jennifer Sandoval, Adilene Aldapa and Jeanette Zambrano led the Spartans to victory at Sacramento's Haggin Oaks Golf Complex.
"It's not too bold to say this race is the turning point for this program," head coach Brad Wick said after the win. "The past is behind us. This group has bought into our philosophy and our vision. They are putting in the work, are executing in the races, are getting results. All that feed on itself."
Sandoval finished in second place in 20:30.01, trimming more than a minute off her previous best this year at the 6k distance. Aldapa, who was one second behind Sandoval, finished in third place. She stopped the clock in 20:31.1, also a minute better than her previous season best.
Rounding out the top-three finishers for SJSU, Zambrano crossed the line in 20:56.2 and in fifth place. Her time was nearly two minutes quicker that her best effort of 2017.
"Jenny and Addie were at the front from the gun," Wick said. "Jeanette was in the top-10 after the first mile and just kept pushing. Those thee stayed at the front, as they should, and made a statement about where we are as a program."
Kai Bohannon had her third top-20 result in as many races this year. The fourth Spartans to score, she finished in 16th place in 21:28.2. Carmen Contreras wrapped up the scoring for SJSU with a 22:01.5 and in 36th place. Camilla Hanson came home in 74th place in 22:46.3. Bohannon, Contreras and Hanson all recorded their best times of the season.
"Kai, Carmen and Camilla ran really well," Wick added. "Kai and Carmen didn't wait to long and steadily moved up throughout the race to put us in a position to win."
San José State is enjoying the best start to a season in years. In three events, the Spartans have two wins and a second place finish.
On Saturday, the team won the Capital Cross Challenge with 62 points. Nevada was second (82 pts.), Loyola Marymount finished third (115 pts.), Chico State was fourth (134 pts.) and Southern Utah was fifth (148 pts.).
Danielle Shanahan (Loyola Marymount) won the race in 20:23.2. She was followed by Sandoval and Aldapa. Chico State's Hannah Dorman was fourth in 20:53.0 and Zambrano rounded out the top-five.
The Spartans next race, the last of the regular season, is on October 14, in Sunnyvale at the Bronco Invitational.
Capital Cross Challenge
Saturday, September 30, 2017
Haggin Oaks Golf Complex - 6k
Team Results
1. San José State (62 pts)
2. Nevada (82 pts)
3. Loyola Marymount (115 pts)
4. Chico State (134 pts)
5. Southern Utah (148 pts)
Individual Results
1. Danielle Shanahan (Loyola Marymount) 20:23.2
2. Jennifer Sandoval (San José State) 20:30.1
3. Adilene Aldapa (San José State) 20:31.1
4. Hannah Dorman (Chico State) 20:53.0
5. Jeanette Zambrano (San José State) 20:56.2
Additional San José State Finishers
16. Kai Bohannon - 21:28.2
36. Carmen Contreras - 22:01.5
74. Camilla Hanson - 22:46.3