Women's Overall Results
Team Scoring
Medalists By Age Group— Dirt Dog Series
Photo Gallery

SAN MARCOS, Calif.— The No. 3 Cal State San Marcos women's cross country team showed off its exceptional talent and depth Saturday, winning the 2013 Cougar Challenge held on the CSUSM campus at the Mangrum Track and Field. The Cougars separated themselves from an eight-team field by scoring 19 team points, with all five scorers finishing in the top seven of the collegiate competition.

Kate Bouvatte was the individual race winner, using a strong finish to hold off three-time NAIA cross country All-American Kelly Thompson in the final 100 meters to cross the line first in 17:30. Thompson— a key member of three NAIA National Championship squads from 2009-2011 who has used all of her cross country eligibility, but will compete for the Cougars in indoor track in the winter— finished two seconds back at 17:32.

For Bouvatte, a transfer from Palomar, the race was her first individual win as a Cougar, though she had placed in the top six of each of her last three races entering Saturday. Her new personal record gives her the 10^th fastest career best time in school history, and was the 11th fastest mark ever run by a Cougar on the CSUSM home course.

Finishing not far behind was Heidi Swanson, who placed third overall in 17:38, just ahead of CSUSM alumna  and assistant coach Whitney Patton at 17:40.

The race, while an intercollegiate competition, was also open to the public and members of the local San Diego Dirt Dog Series, who brought several talented runners from the local community to the event.

The next Cougar to come in was Raelyn Worley, who crossed the line 12th overall in 18:17, and was fourth in the team scoring. Just nine seconds behind her was Michelle Cruz, who scored five points for the team with her 13th place finish.

The final scorer for CSUSM was Salena Gallardo, who came in at 18:33 in 16th place and as the seventh collegiate finisher. The Cougars total of 19 points gave CSUSM put quite a distance over the rest of the field, as San Diego Mesa College finished second with 78 points, and Albion College (Mich.) placed third with 82.

CSUSM will return to action next Saturday at the NAIA West Coast Jamboree in Orange, hosted by No. 4 ranked Biola.