SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos men's and women's cross country teams will race in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Championships on Sunday, Oct. 25 in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. This will be the first championship competition for CSUSM as a NCAA Division II institution and the final race of the season for the Cougars.
 
Both the men's and women's squads had successful showings on the same course at the SF State Invitational on Oct. 9, with the Cougar women finishing third and the men fifth.
 
The CCAA features many of the elite cross country programs in the nation. Chico State's men's and women's teams are both ranked in the top five of the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) NCAA Division II polls. The men's and women's teams from Cal Poly Pomona are also ranked in the top 25, as is the SF State men's team.
 
Regionally, the CCAA has five teams in the top 10 of the West Region men's and women's rankings, with Chico State No. 1 on each list. Cal Poly Pomona (No. 4), SF State (No. 7), UC San Diego (No. 8) and Humboldt State (No. 9) join the Wildcat's on the men's list and Cal Poly Pomona (No. 6), Cal State San Bernardino (No. 7), UC San Diego (No. 8) and Stanislaus State (No. 10) are ranked with the women.
 
Twenty-two student-athletes will be traveling to the competition for CSUSM, with 10 runners and one alternate representing each squad. As provisional members of the CCAA, the Cougars will compete in the championships and be eligible for All-CCAA honors but not be part of team scoring or displace other runners.

The Schedule
CCAA Cross Country Championships
Sunday, Oct. 25
San Francisco, Calif. – Speedway Meadow in Golden Gate Park
Men's Race Information | Women's Race Information | Course Map | Results
 
Race Times
9:00 a.m. – Women's 6K
10:00 a.m. – Men's 8K
 
Course
The course will start and finish in Speedway Meadow. The first 1.85K will be a loop around the polo field and up through the woods back to the meadow. Each course will then consist of 2K loops through Speedway Meadow, Lindley Meadow and the surrounding dirt trails. On the last lap, runners will head back down Speedway for the last 400m. The course consists of rolling terrain along grass fields and dirt trails. It is the same course that was used for the 2009 NCAA Division II West Region Championships.
 
Traveling for Cal State San Marcos
CSUSM Women
Rachel Brady
Shelby Eberwein
Salena Gallardo
Arianna Garcia-Swantek
Cristen Lane
Terra McGinnis
Natalie Rodriguez
Bailey Smith
Mandy Solorio
Anahi Soriano
Aholibama Velazquez
 
CSUSM Men
Caesar Castillo
Chris Ceja
Eric Constante
Joe Gonzalez
Steven Ing
Zach Laurenzana
Ryan Maize
Steven Terris
Michael Waltrip
Trent Warren
Justin Washington

The Competition - USTFCCCA NCAA Division II Rankings Listed
Cal State San Marcos (Women; Men)
Cal Poly Pomona (Women #24; Men #8)
Cal State East Bay (Women; Men)
Cal State LA (Women)
Cal State Monterey Bay (Women; Men)
Cal State San Bernardino (Women)
Chico State (Women #5; Men #2)
Humboldt State (Women; Men)
SF State (Women; Men #25)
Sonoma State (Women)
Stanislaus State (Women, Men)
UC San Diego (Women; Men)
 
CSUSM Cross Country
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
 
Track The Cougars
There are now more ways than ever to stay in tune with your favorite CSUSM teams. Email updates, text messages and a weekly department-wide email digest are just a couple ways to stay in the know. For more info, click here.
 
Last Time Out: 2015 Cougar Challenge Recap
Both the women's and men's squads defended home turf with victories at the 8th Annual Cougar Challenge. Aholibama Velazquez (18:03) was the top collegiate runner and finished second overall to lead the women to the win. The women's team finished with 17 points in the 5K race and have won the event each year it has been held. Assistant coach Paige Mills was the overall winner, finishing with a time of 17:54.

In the men's 8K, freshman Eric Constante (26:58) placed second among collegiate runners and 13th overall in guiding the triumphant men's team. The men finished with 28 points to win for the fourth straight year. For a full recap of the Cougar Challenge, click here.

2014 CCAA Cross Country Championships Recap
Cal State San Marcos did not compete in last year's championships.

Steve Scott – The Man, the Myth, the Miler
Considered one of the greatest mile runners in American history, CSUSM head coach Steve Scott is a three-time Olympian and was a six-time All-American in track and cross country at UC Irvine. A member the United States Track & Field Hall of Fame, Scott ran 134 sub-4 minute miles in his illustrious career. Scott started the Cougar cross country and track & field programs in the 1999-2000 season. He has coached over 140 All-Americans and been named NAIA Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year three times. He has also been selected Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.) Cross Country Coach of the Year 10 times.
 
New Territory
After nine seasons of competition in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), the Cougars enter their first season of NCAA Division II competition in 2015. CSUSM is currently in the second year of a three-year transition to full NCAA Division II membership. As a part of the transition, the Cougars will be ineligible for postseason play in 2015 and 2016.
 
New Conference
Cal State San Marcos is a part of the 13-team California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), made up of 12 CSU institutions and UC San Diego. The CCAA is one of the premier NCAA Division II leagues in the nation. Its teams have won more national championships (153) than any other conference.
 
CSUSM Athletics Social Media
The Cougars are now more "social" than ever… Navigate to the CSUSM Athletics Social Media Directory to connect with your favorite teams, coaches and administrators.
 
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Snapchat (csusmathletics)