Runners receive mixed results in Pomona
By Mark Singerton
Cal Poly Pomona hosted the Bronco Invitational Saturday, which
was a minor affair with a blend of unranked Division I teams, a few
individual collegiate runners and several club runners in its
field.
On the men’s side, Long Beach State won the 8,000-meter event
with 117 points, but it was Brian Godsey of Cal State Northridge
who won the individual honors among the few collegians. He placed
fifth overall in a time of 25:12.
Team-wise, the meet was inconsequential for the unranked Bruin
men, who sent just three runners to the race.
Freshman Matt Olin will be an alternate at the Pac-10
Championships, Oct. 29. Olin, who finished 20th at Pomona, might
even compete for head coach Bob Larsen’s squad at the NCAA
District-8 meet, Nov. 12. Sophomore Juan Sotelo, who had been
trying to make the squad all season, finished 29th. Junior Scott
Urner fell to 48th, but he only recently returned from a back
injury suffered earlier in the year.
"It was great that these guys were able to get out there and get
some experience," Larsen said. "I’m very pleased with how they did.
And they learned a few things out there. They proved not just to
me, but to themselves how good of shape that they’re in. They’re
coming along real well."
Long Beach State won the women’s leg of the Bronco Invitational
with 117 points. The Bruin women did not participate as a team, but
UCLA did send three runners to Pomona, all of whom are competing
for the last spot on coach Eric Peterson’s seven-person roster for
the Pac-10 Championships. Junior Githa Hampson won the 5,000-meter
event overall in a time of 17:59. Junior Jeanene Harlick had one of
her better races of the year, finishing second in 18:02. Senior
Susannah Thrasher placed 18th in 19:03.