SACRAMENTO, Calif - The Gaels took on the NCAA Division I West Region Championships Friday morning at the Haggin Oaks Golf Course. The women finished 17th out of 39 teams, and the men finished 23rd out of 29.
The women had the highest finish in program history, placing 17th, along with having three women finish in the top 82 out of 253 competitors. In previous years, the team's best finish was 19th while only ever having one racer finish in the top 100. The team beat WCC rival Santa Clara by a record of 101 points.
Once again,
Rayna Stanziano led SMC, finishing in 44th place with a time of 20:34.8. This is Stanziano's second fastest time competing in the 6K, and the sixth fastest 6K in program history. Taking up the 63rd spot was
Kaylee Barnes with a time of 20:43.3, a new PR and the seventh fastest 6K time in program history. Banes jumped a total of 69 spots from beginning to end. The last Gael to finish in the top 100 was
Molly Dreher in 82nd with a time of 20:56.1.
Coach Marty Kinsey said, "To say that I'm proud of these women would be an understatement. This has been a record-setting year in so many ways and the culture that the women on the starting line and the rest of the women on the team put together allowed us to get to this point. They did a fantastic job and the Gaels continued to improve in every way. Go Gaels!"
The men had two Gael racers finish in the top 100, taking up 79th and 86th. The senior from Campolindo,
Cayden Hein, secured the 79th spot with a time of 31:01.5, jumping a total of 46 spots throughout the race.
Blaine Reynolds jumped 58 spots from start to finish and took the 86th spot with a time of 31:07.4.
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