SAN JOSE, Calif. – San Jose State cross country started the 2019 season off with a bang as senior distance runners Jennifer Sandoval and Jose Pina each claimed individual medalist honors at the USF Invitational hosted by the University of San Francisco at Golden Gate Park. Sandoval led the Spartan women to a third-place team finish while Pena and the men fourth.
The Spartans had two of the top three finishers in both races. With Sandoval leading the charge in the women's 6k with a time of 21:38.3, her teammate Savanna Perez finished just behind in third with a time of 22:01.1. Evelin Meza (22:02.8) was nipping on her heels and finished eighth in the field of 93.
Sandoval finished first with a time of 21:38.3
In the men's 8k, Pina led the charge with a time of 25:17.0, besting the next-closest finisher by 20.2 seconds. Sophomore Luis Chavez was not far behind and finished third at 25:39.1 and Edgar Bonilla (25:44.6) finished in seventh.
"It was a solid season opener for us," head cross country coach Brad Wick said. "Having Jenny and Jose get the win is great and to have Savanna and Evelin on the women's side and Luis and Edgar on the men's side not too far behind was the goal and they did a great job. We also had a number of athletes who were running their first college race or were just getting back into training and they all did very well."
The Spartans get plenty of time to rest their legs before taking on the competition again on September 28 at the Capital Cross Challenge in Sacramento.
TEAM RESULTS - WOMEN'S 6K
| Place | Team | Points |
| 1. | California | 38 |
| 2. | San Francisco | 69 |
| 3. | San Jose State | 72 |
| 4. | St. Mary's | 79 |
| 5. | UC Davis | 98 |
| 6. | Santa Clara | 138 |
| 7. | UC Santa Cruz | 207 |
TEAM RESULTS - MEN'S 8K
| Place | Team | Points |
| 1. | California | 56 |
| 2. | UC Davis | 78 |
| 3. | Santa Clara | 78 |
| 4. | San Jose State | 82 |
| 5. | San Francisco | 93 |
| 6. | St. Mary's | 136 |
| 7. | UC Santa Cruz | 162 |
SJSU INDIVIDUAL FINISHERS - WOMEN'S 6K
| Place | Runner | Time |
| 1. | Jennifer Sandoval | 21:38.3 |
| 3. | Savanna Perez | 22:01.1 |
| 6. | Evelin Meza | 22:02.8 |
| 34. | Mikayla Akers | 22:46.7 |
| 40. | Camilla Hanson | 23:01.4 |
| 59. | Briana Valencia | 23:44.5 |
| 60. | Juliette Noyer | 23:51.4 |
SJSU INDIVIDUAL FINISHERS - MEN'S 8K
| Place | Runner | Time |
| 1. | Jose Pina | 25:17.0 |
| 3. | Luis Chavez | 25:39.1 |
| 7. | Edgar Bonilla | 25:44.6 |
| 44. | Evaristo Mateo | 27:03.5 |
| 47. | Klaus Quinonez | 27:09.7 |
| 52. | Omar Pina | 27:25.6 |