Sacramento, Calif. – Senior Craig Huff, in what will be his final cross country race in a Spartans singlet, came in 42nd at the 2018 NCAA West Regional Cross Country Championships and led the San Jose State cross country team to a 12th place finish on Friday at Haggin Oaks Golf Course in Sacramento.
"I thought Craig and Jose (Pina) put themselves in the perfect spot at the start of the race," head coach Brad Wick said. "They were in the leading pack after about five kilometers, but a runner went down right in front of them at about the six kilometer mark. Craig and Jose got tangled up in it and when they got spit out the lead pack was gone. In this type of race there was no way to bridge the gap they had and it was pretty much over for them from there."
Coming off an eighth-place finish and second-team All-Mountain West honor a week ago in the Mountain West Cross Country Championships, Huff finished in 30:27.33. Pina was 54th in 30:41.07.
Huruy Zeratsion, also senior in his final cross country race for San José State, was 60th in 30:41.16.
"Huruy did a good job," Wick said. "He consistently and methodically moved up 26 places in a very competitive race," Wick said. "I was also pleased with the efforts of Luis (Chavez) and Charlie (Pope).
Chavez, a freshman, ran a 31:07.85 good for 81st place and junior Pope was the last Spartan to score. He came home in 97th in a time of 31:31.42.
Edgar Bonilla and Evaristo Mateo were 113th and 133rd respectively. Bonilla, a senior, ran a 31:50.41 and junior Mateo stopped the clock at 32:18.64.
"I was disappointed for Craig to have this happen in his last race," Wick said. "You never want to end your career with that type of incident. I want to thank Craig and Huruy for all they have done for our program."
Portland's Nick Hauger won the race in 29:42.32. Arizona's Carlos Villarreal was second (29:43.40) and Koby Pederson of Loyola Marymount was third (29:44.04).
In the team competition Portland was the winner with 81 points. Washington (87 pts.), Boise State (107 pts.), Stanford (115 pts.) and Oregon (154 pts.) rounded out the top-5.
NCAA West Regional Cross Country Championships
Haggin Oaks Golf Course – Sacramento, Calif.
9 November 2018
Men's Championship – 10k
Team Results (Top-10 of 32)
1. Portland (81 pts.)
2. Washington(87 pts.)
3. Boise State (107 pts.)
4. Stanford (115 pts.)
5. Oregon (154 pts.)
6. UCLA (155 pts.)
7. Washington State (223 pts.)
8. California (231 pts.)
9.Gonzaga (236 pts.)
10. Cal Poly (291 pts.)
12. San José State (334 pts.)
Individual Results (Top-10 of 250)
1. Nick Hauger (Portland) – 29:42.32
2. Carlos Villarreal (Arizona) – 29:43.40
3. Koby Pederson (Loyola Marymount) – 29:44.04
4. Tanner Anderson (Washington) – 29:44.51
5. Jack Rowe (San Francisco) – 29:45.65
6. Garrett Corcoran (California) – 29:46.23
7. Addison DeHaven (Boise State ) – 29:47.73
8. Blake Haney (Oregon) – 29:48.11
9. Chris Olley (San Francisco) – 29:48.49
10. James Mwaura (Gonzaga) – 29:48.86
San José State Results
42. Craig Huff – 30:27.33
54. Jose Pina – 30:41.07
60. Huruy Zeratsion – 30:41.16
81. Luis Chavez – 31:07.85
97. Charlie Pope – 31:31.42
113. Edgar Bonilla – 31:50.41
133. Evaristo Mateo – 32:18.64