Sept. 5, 2009

SAN FRANCISCO - California opened the 2009 cross country season at the 17th annual San Francisco Invitational at Golden Gate Park and came through with a pair of strong finishes. The Golden Bear men won the competition by a single point over host USF, while the Cal women, behind individual champion Keena Kohl, took second in the team standings.

In the women's race, Kohl prevailed by a comfortable margin over runner-up Mikayla Murphy of UC Santa Cruz, covering the 5000-meter distance in 18:20.30. Murphy crossed the line more than five seconds back with a time of 18:25.70.

Cal's Michelle Davis (18:35.30) and Nicole Hough (18:35.70) were sixth and seventh, respectively, while Taylor Dutch posted a mark of 18:42.50 to place ninth and give the Bears four finishers in the Top 10. Crystal Esparza rounded out Cal's scoring with a 13th-place finish (18:58.40).

For Kohl, a sophomore, the invitational title represents quite an improvement over last year when she was eighth in her first competition as a Bear. Dutch also moved up significantly in her second tour of the course after taking 21st in 2008.

On the men's side, Cal's Collin Jarvis was the top collegiate runner and second overall with a time of 25:02.60 over 8000 meters. Austin Ramos, running unattached, won the race in 24:55.30.

Three other Bears also finished in the Top 10, with freshman Cody Schmidt seventh (25:25.00), sophomore Maxime Chevee eighth (25:25.30) and freshman Simon Schmidt 10th (25:31.60). Other Cal finishers were Matt Petersen in 16th place in 25:50.40, Nate Beach in 17th (25:54.60) and James Attarian in 24th (26:15.60).

Several of Cal's projected top runners, including Deborah Maier, Alison Greggor, Kari Karlsson and Steve Sodaro, did not compete Saturday and will likely make their 2009 debut at the Stanford Invitational Sept. 26. Next Saturday, the Bears travel to the Sacramento State Jamboree before making their visit to Stanford.

USF Invitational
Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, Calif.
Saturday, September 05, 2009

Women's Results
Team Standings: 1. San Francisco 32, 2. California 36, 3. UC Davis 84, 4. Sacramento State 94, 5. Santa Clara 123, 6. UC Santa Cruz 159, 7. San Jose State 197, 8. Pacific 263, 9. Holy Names 279, 10. Mills 280.

Cal Finishers: 1. Keena Kohl 18:20.30; 6. Michelle Davis 18:35.30; 7. Nicole Hough 18:35.70; 9. Taylor Dutch; 18:42.50; 13. Crystal Esparza 18:58.40.

Complete Women's Results

Men's Results
Team Standings: 1. Cal 38, 2. San Francisco 39, 3. San Jose State 90, 4. Santa Clara 124, 5. Academy of Art 125, 6. UC Davis 143, 7. Sacramento State 191, 8. Holy Names 233.

Winner: Austin Ramon (unattached) 24:55.30. Cal Finishers: 2. Collin Jarvis 25:02.60; 7. Cody Schmidt 25:25.00; 8. Maxime Chevee 25:25.30; 10. Simon Schmidt 25:31.60; 16. Matt Petersen 25:50.40; 17. Nate Beach 25:54.60; 24. James Attarian 26:15.60.

Complete Men's Reults