SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - For the first time in over eight years, the men's cross country team has finished second overall at the USF Invitational. 
 
Saint Mary's started off the 2K and 4K split in third place, where they picked up speed in the 6K as they jumped to second place and maintained to finish. 
 
The first Gael crossing the finish line was graduate student Zane Jackson with a time of 24:46.1 and finished in 10th place as he started off in 22nd. Jacob Moffett finished with a time of 24:47.5, where he jumped from 35th to 20th, to 18th, and secured the 12th place spot.  
 
Saint Mary's also secured the 14th and 15th spot with Francisco Felix Jr. coming in at 24:50.3 and Junior Eric Martinez finishing 4.1 seconds behind Felix. 
 
Just making it under the top 20 runners was Curtus Volf in 17th with a time of 24:58.3 as he maintained 16th place throughout his last two splits and graduated student Jonathan Velasco taking 20th with a time of 25:05.1. 
 
After today's race, Head Coach Harlan Lopez said "It was a great team effort today, the guys grouped up really well through the first 4K and then the last half of the race moved up. A great start to the season and the team was really happy with their performance."
 
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