BREA -- Excitement and anticipation qucikly wilted in the heat and became frustration and disappointment for the Cal State Long Beach cross country teams Saturday at the Big West Conference championships at Carbon Canyon Regional Park.

The women's team finished eighth in the 11-team field with a score of 179 points, while the men's team finished last of ten in its race with a score of 273 points.

Boise State won the women's event with both individual champions, while UC Santa Barbara upset the favored Broncos in the men's event.

"I don't know if [the team] felt too much pressure," CSULB coach Andy Sythe said. 'I think I backed them off a little too early."

Kim Foster finished 14th overall to lead all 49er women. Andy Fondacaro paced the men with a 44th place finish.

CSULB's day was best summed up by Fred Becerra's performance in the 8,000-meter men's race.

"I had to do some extreme stuff in the first mile just to keep pace," Becerra said.

Becerra, who has been the top runner on the men's side all season, finished 66th overall and slowed considerably after the first mile due to cramps in both legs.

The 49ers also had to bring in Lucas Neubauer just two days before the race because Wayne Stickney-Smith went down with an injury.

Things did look like they would turn around for The Beach in the women's race, as the 49ers got off to a decent start in the 5,000-meter event.

But instead of the pack-style of running that has been the team's signature all year, the 49ers were spread out by the river crossings and their fate sealed.

"It's just frustrating and disappointing to have that much potential and not have it come out on the most important day of the year," Sythe said.

Sythe is faced with another big decision this week, that of whether or not to take his squads to the District 8 meet. The meet is Nov. 15 in Tucson, Ariz.