Cross country • Sophomore Nicole Blalock finished in 16th place, and was the top finisher for the women's team for the eighth time in nine collegiate races.

 

49ers improve again

By Michael Bower
Online Forty-Niner
Sports Editor

The Long Beach State men and women cross country team's could be getting into shape quicker than first year Long Distance Coach Matt Roe expected.

Both teams finished in seventh place as numerous runners had a strong showing for the 49ers at the 31st Annual Stanford Invitational in Palo Alto Saturday.

"This is the best we've ever run here," Roe said.

Jimmy Grabow led the way again for the 49ers' men's team as he ran the fifth-fastest time in school history with a 24 minute, 42 second time on the 8K course – good enough for 18th place.
Sophomore Wohan Ovalle ran a personal-best 25:19 placing 35th for the men's team.

"Our men executed the race plan very well and closed in on some teams," Roe said. "We've got a long way to go, but our execution in running as a team was very good."

Sophomore Nicole Blalock was the top finisher for the women's team for the eighth time in nine collegiate races. She finished in 16th place with a time of 22:37.

The big lift for the women's team came from sophomore transfer Merideth Kramon. Kramon finished in 20th place with a time of 22:46.

"We knew Meredith was fit coming in, and we were able to make some minor adjustments," Roe said. "She proved to us that she was ready to run well and now she has a very solid race under her belt and she should get stronger throughout the season."

The cross country team will be back in action in the UC Riverside Invitational on Saturday at Agricultural Fields in Riverside at 8:30 a.m.