Cross country team finds success at home

Long Beach State gives one of its best performances of season, finishes third in first LBSU Invitational since 1981

By Jimmy Chai, On-Line Forty-Niner

Monday, October 12, 1998

The men's and women's cross country team broke in their new home course Saturday at El Dorado Park for the first Long Beach State Invitational since 1981.

Family, friends and faculty members joined together to support both Long Beach State's men's and women's cross country squads as they gave one of its best performances of the year to the hometown crowd.

The course, designed by Skip Stolley and Kevin Galbraith, utilized the hills and the fish-filled lake to create an extremely challenging run.

Although the 49er staff was inexperienced with setting up a meet, they did an excellent job, said Andy Sythe, cross country head coach.

"We hope that other teams will spread the word about the meet," Sythe said. "This is one of the best spectator courses. El Dorado Park is a beautiful spot."

And a beautiful spot it was.

Out of the eight competing teams, the men's squad finished in third place, inching out USC by one point. But among the collegiate teams, the men's 49er squad ranked first.

Seven of the eight Long Beach State runners had new life-time bests, Sythe said.

Andy Fondacaro topped the men's squad finishing 10th overall with a time of 26-minutes, 2-seconds passing Derek DeCicco, who finished 11th with a time of 26 -minutes, 9-seconds, and Fred Becerra, who finished 14th with a time of 26-minutes, 33-seconds.

"If someone has an off day, we have more than one person that can lead," DeCicco said. "We don't rely on one person. We rely on the team."

Bob Bacon inched out fellow teammates Mike McKinish and Mike Solis for the fifth-team spot with a time of 27-minutes, 44-seconds and a 30th place ranking.

But the team has faced injuries. Matt Chen, the teams No. 5 runner, pulled a groin muscle before the meet. Zac Carlson and Johann Appell, who have been plagued by old injuries, did not run.

The women's team showed great strength Saturday. Four of the five runners set personal records giving them a third-place finish among the seven competing teams.

Top-team finisher Bree Frigo finished 11th overall with a time of 18-minutes, 20-seconds. Kim Jackson followed in 12th place with a time of 18-minutes, 43-seconds, breaking the 19-minute mark for the first time in her career.

Monica MacManus finished within the Top 20 with a time of 19-minutes, 3-seconds (three seconds off her life-time best) and a 19th place ranking.

Kristi Jones sat out due to injury, but plans to run next week.

"Our depth is coming through [for us]," Sythe said.

"People are stepping up for the team making the honor of team MVP up for grabs," Sythe said.

The momentum of Saturday's meet, along with key members coming back into the line up, will hopefully give the team a boost for the Oct. 17 UCSD Triton Invitational.

The meet will be held at the UC San Diego campus where the team has faired well in the past, Sythe said.