Soka’s Souza Off to Fast Start

Soka's Andre Souza is setting a quick pace to start the 2024 season.  The senior from Boise, Ida., ran a 21:15 4-mile at the Seawolf Invite to place 4^th overall in the field of 85 runner, mostly competing at the NCAA DII level.  A week later he finished 8^th in a field of 149 with a strong 24:50 8k at the Biola Invitational.

In his first event of the season, UC Merced senior Jonathan Chavez, a two-time conference champion and NAIA All-American, clocked a 24:40 to place 13^th at last Saturday's Kim Duyst XC Invitational, producing a time that ranks just outside an all-time conference top-10 mark.

UC Merced received votes in the NAIA Cross Country Coaches' Top 25 Preseason Poll.

RECENT RESULTS

Saturday, Sept. 7

SEAWOLF INVITE, at Fresno, Calif.

Men's 4 Mile

(RV) UC Merced 5^th of 9 teams

UCM:  Alberto Alves (18^th) 21.59

Soka 7^th

SUA:  Andre Souza (4^th) 21:15

Simpson no team score

SU:  Cade Salsedo (52^nd) 24:05

Seawolf Invitational men's results

Women's 5k

UC Merced 5^th of 7 teams

UCM:  Irene Martinez (17^th) 19:39

Simpson no team score

SU:  Joy Taylor (60^th) 24:12

Soka no team score

SUA:  Chie Shishidou (63^rd) 25:03

Seawolf Invitational women's results

Friday, Sept. 13

BIOLA INVITATIONAL, at Fullerton, Calif.

Men's 8k

Soka 8^th of 13 teams

SUA:  Andre Souza (8^th) 24:50

Biola Invitational men's results

Women's 5k

Soka 13^th of 14 teams

SUA:  Yuko Hashimoto (98^th) 22:01

Biola Invitational women's results

Saturday, Sept. 14

KIM DUYST XC INVITATIONAL, at Ceres, Calif.

Men's 8k

(RV) UC Merced 3^rd of 6 teams

UCM: Jonathan Chavez (13^th) 24:40

Simpson no team score

SU:  Cade Salsedo (73^rd) 28:42

Kim Duyst XC Invitational men's results

Women's 6k

UC Merced 4^th of 7 teams

UCM:  Irene Martinez (21^st) 22:52

Simpson no team score

SU:  Joy Taylor (59^th) 27:48

Kim Duyst XC Invitational women's results

STUMP INVITATIONAL, at Davis, Calif.

Men's 8k

Cal Maritime 6^th of 6 teams

CSUM:  Patrick Smith (62^nd) 30:26

Stump Invitational men's results

UPCOMING RACES

Friday, Sept. 20

PACIFIC INVITE, at Lodi, Calif.

(RV) UC Merced

Saturday, Sept. 21

JESSUP INVITATIONAL, at Rocklin, Calif.

Cal Maritime, Simpson

Saturday, Sept. 28

COUGAR CHALLENGE, at San Marcos, Calif.

Soka

Saturday, Oct. 5

THE MASTER'S XC INVITATIONAL, at Santa Clarita, Calif.

Soka, (RV) UC Merced

Friday, Oct. 11

BUTTE INVITE, at Oroville, Calif.

Simpson

SF STATE INVITATIONAL, at San Francisco, Calif.

Cal Maritime

Saturday, Oct. 19

BRONCO INVITATIONAL, at Sunnyvale, Calif.

Cal Maritime, (RV) UC Merced

POMONA-PITZER INVITE, at Claremont, Calif.

Soka

GEORGE OJA LINFIELD INVITATIONAL, at Salem, Ore.

Simpson

Sunday, Sept. 20

PACIFIC UNION INVITATIONAL, at Angwin, Calif.

Cal Maritime, Pacific Union

Monday, Oct. 28

CALIFORNIA PACIFIC CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS, at Fresno, Calif