Chaffey College Cross Country Excels at Manny Bautista Invitational

The Chaffey College men's and women's cross country teams recently had strong showings at the annual Manny Bautista Cross Country Invitational in Point Loma, California. This event is a key indicator of team performance leading into the championship season, which includes the IEAC Championships on October 25th, the SoCal Championships on November 8th, and the 3C2A State Championships on November 23rd.

The men's team had an outstanding day, with every runner achieving a personal best time. This collective effort resulted in a victory over higher-ranked Fullerton College. Sophomore Joseph Chavarria led the Panthers, finishing tenth overall with a time of 20:45. The team also narrowly missed defeating Saddleback College by just 20 points.

The women's team, though smaller in number, showed their potential to be competing in this tough conference. Sophomore Cecilia Morales led the team, shattering her personal record by 11 seconds and finishing 25th overall with a time of 20:27.

Head Coach Kristin Crowell was pleased with both teams' performances, stating, "We had an excellent race at the Bautista Invitational. When 11 out of 12 athletes set personal bests, you can't ask for more." Crowell emphasized the team's hard work and dedication, noting that their consistent effort is clearly paying off. She remains optimistic about the team's future, adding, "As long as we continue to do what is expected of us and stay consistent, our team will reap the benefits of all the hard work."