Kiptoo Finishes Fourth Overall at Bobcat Invite
The Westcliff cross country team showed up and showed out Saturday at UC Merced for the Ryan Nunez Bobcat Invitational, turning in a number of impressive performances, none bigger than team captain Kelvin Kiptoo’s fourth overall finish in the men’s race. Kiptoo finished the four-mile track in 21 minutes, 7.81 seconds.
by BRANDON PETERSEN
The Westcliff cross country team showed up and showed out Saturday at UC Merced for the Ryan Nunez Bobcat Invitational, turning in a number of impressive performances, none bigger than team captain Kelvin Kiptoo's fourth overall finish in the men's race.
Kiptoo finished the four-mile track in 21 minutes, 7.81 seconds.
"Kelvin definitely stood out today," Westcliff cross country coach Justin Johnson said. "We had a pre-race plan and he smashed the goal that was set for him."
Tanya Hacum came off the IR list to compete in her first event Saturday and Johnson described her race as amazing. She finished the 5K women's race in 23 minutes, 57.79 seconds.
Cameron Blankenship finished on the men's side with a 28:10.45 and Robert Crist turned in a mark of 33:12.08.
On the women's side, Mikaiella Vargas finished in 28 minutes, 10.98 seconds and Shackera Samuels turned in a mark of 29:10.35.
"This was our first time traveling up north and we competed well," Johnson said. "The whole team wasn't there, so we couldn't rally off and push one another to faster times, however, they did well. I'm extremely pleased with what we have here at Westcliff and with the direction the program is going."
Westcliff will compete in its fourth meet Friday in Fullerton, where the Titans will host.
"With this short race week, I need to put some new race plans together very quickly," Johnson said. "We are going to condition like crazy and get some new pacing guides.
"We will look to have some new (personal records)."
The Titan Invitational is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. at Cal State Fullerton.
To contact Brandon Petersen, e-mail brandonpetersen@westcliff.edu.