MOORPARK, Calif. – On Friday, the SBCC cross country team competed in the WSC Preview Meet at Arroyo Vista Community Park hosted by Moorpark College.
After the Vaqueros skipped their last meet in Bakersfield due to heat and smoke issues, this would be the second race of the season for sophomore Mark Hernandez and freshman Luzie Brings. They would have to power through on a day which saw temperatures of over 90 degrees at race time.
Women's 5K
Representing the Vaquero women, Brings would finish 38th out of 53 finishers with a 5K time of 25:02.
"Luzie, in her first ever season of cross country racing – or any sort of run racing – did the best she could given the conditions," said head coach Scott Fickerson. "She tried to go out controlled to manage the heat, but still wilted a bit over the course of the 5K race and had to be treated at the end for minor heat exhaustion. Because of these challenges, she did not post her best time of the season, but gained valuable experience as a novice runner."
Danielle Salcedo of Canyons College finished first with a time of 18:25. Glendale won the team competition with 48 points over Canyons with 77.
Men's 4-Mile
Mark Hernandez raced for the first time since the Oxnard Invitational three weeks prior, finishing 75th out of 87 finishers with a 4-mile time of 29:10.
"Despite a very similar course in terms of terrain, he ran about three minutes slower this time around. It was all heat related," Fickerson said. "He ran a smart race, but suffered in the heat to the extent he was weaving a bit in the final stretch and struggling to avoid vomiting over the last mile of the race. He gave a valiant effort and learned a lot about mental toughness and managing his resources in the heat."
