Bedard Sets PR With Top-10 Finish

Saturday, September 15

Riverside, CA

8:00 AM

California Baptist University

UC Riverside Invitational (8K)

Simon Bedard competes at the UCR Ivitational

Photo by: Alicia Loh

Bedard Sets PR With Top-10 Finish

9/15/2018 2:54:00 PM | Men's Cross Country, Cross Country, Cross Country & Track

By: Michael Matheney, Sports Information Graduate Assistant

RESULTS

RIVERSIDE, Calif. —In the crosstown meet at the UC Riverside Invitational, California Baptist University finished fifth as a team Saturday morning, with Simon Bedard leading the charge and grabbing a personal-best time in the process.

"The guys are making progress," said Adam Tribble. "It was a step in the right direction after the opener. There were definitely some very good guys in the race — hopefully we can continue to build fitness and confidence over the next few weeks as we move through the season."

The Lancers finished with 164 team points to take fifth place against some stiff competition in the eight-kilometer invitational race. Southern Utah – which ranks 15^th in NCAA Division I – grabbed first, while Utah Valley – a fellow Western Athletic Conference team and the 11^th-ranked team in the Mountain Region – placed second. Pomona-Pitzer and Central Arizona rounded out third and fourth, respectively.

Bedard led the way for CBU, breaking his two-week-old personal record with a time of 24 minutes, 20.8 seconds. It was good for a seventh-place finish, marking the second week in a row the Frenchman has placed in the top-10 of an event with D-I competition.

"Simon has really set a strong tone with his start so far this season," Tribble said.

McMarshall Hartzenburg (25:04.6, 31^st), Dennis Messmer (25:07.7, 34^th) and William Ernst (25:10.7, 36^th) crossed in quick succession for the two through four scoring spots for the Lancers. Cody Beeson (25:55.3, 89th) rounded out the Lancer top-five, while Hector Peralta (90^th) crossed the line a mere 1.3 seconds later. Collins Koech (26:24.5, 112^th) and Mike Alukunyang (26:46.0, 130^th) rounded out the CBU runners in the 8K invitational, with Alukunyang setting a personal best in the process.

In Saturday's 8K open, Jayden Emerson was the top runner for the Lancers, taking 13^th in 25:38.4. Four CBU runners crossed the finish line in under 28 minutes, including Nathaniel Wong (27:25.7, 80^th), Adriel Barajas (27:37.5, 88^th), Mason Dowell (27:39.1, 89^th) and Koby Ghadery (27:49.8, 94^th). Jacob Boatman (28:05.2, 104^th) and Allen Fletcher (29:09.5, 144^th) rounded out the Lancer runners for the day, while Wong, Barajas and Dowell all set personal-best marks in the 8K.

In two weeks, CBU will travel to Minnesota for the Roy Griak Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 29. It is one of the largest meets in the country, with six collegiate races and four high school races, and will be a huge test for the Lancers.