Sept. 7, 2012

BERKELEY - The California men's and women's cross country teams will travel to Sacramento for the Hornet Jamboree at Granite Park on Saturday, Sept. 8.

The event, hosted by Sacramento State, will get underway with a 5000-meter race for the women at 10:15 a.m., followed by a four-mile race for the men at 10:45 a.m. The Bears will race against UC Davis, Fresno State, Santa Clara, Cal State Monterey Bay, Holy Names, Dominican, Mills College, William Jessup and Oregon Tech.

The women are coming off a first-place finish, while the men are coming off a second-place showing in the season-opening USF Invitational last Saturday at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. Sophomore Kelsey Santisteban placed second individually in the USF Invitational, running the 5000-meter race in 17:09.70. Freshman Mariel Mendoza placed fourth overall with a time of 17:47.50 in her collegiate debut, while senior Hillary Hayes finished seventh with a time of 17:53.60. On the men's side, junior Agustin Alva, running in his first race for Cal after transferring in this fall, led the Bears with a fifth-place finish overall. He ran the 8000 meter race in 24:52.00 last weekend.

Several individuals are expected to make their Golden Bear debuts on both the men's and women's side in Saturday's event in Sacramento.

The 2012 men's roster includes nine newcomers to the squad. Four newcomers made their Cal debut on the men's side in last Saturday's season opener, including Alva (5th, 24:52) and freshmen Leland Later (11th, 25:23), Jared Hazlett (16th, 25:44) and Juan David Garcia (18th, 25:47).

The 2012 women's roster includes six newcomers to the squad. Four individuals made their collegiate debut on the women's side in last Saturday's season-opening USF Invitational, including Mendoza (4th, 17:47), Sydney Gray (10th, 18:00), Christine Bowlus (12th, 18:10), and Ashlyn Dadkhah (13th, 18:10).

Last year, then-seniors Deborah Maier and Taylor Dutch posted a 1-2 finish to lead the Cal women to a second-place showing as UC Davis edged the Bears by one point (34 to 33) in the competition. The men placed fifth overall in last season's race as then-junior Collin Jarvis led the way with a 14th-place finish in 19:50.

Saturday's race is the second of eight competitions the men's and women's cross country teams will compete in this fall prior to the NCAA West Regionals in Seattle, Wash. on Nov. 10. The Bears will take next weekend off, before traveling to Charlottesville, Va. to compete in the Panorama Farms Invitational beginning at 6:30 a.m. (PT) on Sept. 22. The event will feature some of the top teams from around the nation.