CBU Ready to Hit the Ground Running
2/10/2020 10:00:00 AM | Men's Track, Women's Track, Track (Distance), Cross Country & Track
RIVERSIDE – Track season is right around the corner for California Baptist University, and CBU is quickly establishing itself as one of the top programs in the nation.
Expectations for the spring track season are fueled by CBU's successes in the fall cross country campaign. Both teams finished the season ranked, with the women ranked 30th in the nation and fifth in the West Region. The men finished ninth in the West Region.
The women's team won the WAC Championship in historic fashion, sweeping the top five spots—a feat which had never been done before in conference history.
The men's squad claimed the fourth through seventh-place spots at the WAC Championships to see four runners named First Team All-WAC honorees.
Among the returners from last season are Emilie Renaud, Anett Somogyi, and Anna Mate.
Renaud dominated the WAC's steeplechase scene in 2019, tallying the fastest steeplechase time in the WAC on her first collegiate attempt at the event, capped off by winning the steeplechase event at the WAC Championships to become the first-ever WAC track champion in women's program history.
"Emilie is in good form right now and moving in a direction to make big progress compared to what she's done in the past," said Head Coach Adam Tribble when contemplating the upcoming season, "she's showing those intangibles like her work ethic, tenacity, focus, and maturity, that will take her to a special place."
Somogyi set the standard in the WAC in 2019, running the best 5,000 meter and 10,000 meter times of anyone in the conference. Somogyi also was an All-WAC honoree for her performance in the 10,000 meter at the WAC Championships.
Mate proved to be one of the top competitors last season in the WAC as well. Mate ran the second and third fastest times in the WAC, respectively, in the 5,000 meter and 10,000 meter in 2019.
While there are plenty of new faces on the men's side, returners McMarshal Hartzenberg and Zlatko Kozuhar bring a lot to the table for the Lancers.
Hartzenberg grabbed a spot on the podium in last year's 10,000 meter competition at the WAC Championships.
Coach Tribble sees high marks in store for Hartzenberg this season, "I can't say enough about the progress he has made since last year. He has been working really hard and has had a great attitude, and if he can stay healthy and keep doing what he's been doing, he can run some really impressive marks."
Kozuhar laid claim to top-five times in both the 5,000 meter and 10,000 meter in the WAC last season.
In addition to the returning talent, the freshman class that was tabbed as the third and fourth-ranked recruiting classes for the men and women, respectively, by the Stride Report is now ready to make their mark after an impressive cross country season.
Rikus van Niekerk and Roman Zozulya are the newest additions to CBU's roster as spring enrollees and will be joined by Ivo Balabanov as Lancers who will make their CBU debuts on the track.
"Ivo is a monster, we are really excited to see him run in the CBU jersey," said Tribble. "He is a special athlete with the potential to run some marks that should be very, very impressive not just for CBU or the WAC, but for the entire NCAA."
Van Niekerk is a 1,500 and 5,000-meter specialist from South Africa. He ran three sub-four-minute 1500-meter races in his home country already last year, highlighted by a personal best time of three minutes, 55.62 seconds on Mach 16. He has also set a new best in the 5,000 last year, with a 14:50.59 just two weeks later.
Zozulia is a Ukrainian 5,000 and 10,000-meter runner who represented his home country in the Euro U20 Championships in 2019. Zozulia has personal best times of 14:38.52 in the 5K and 30:17.60 in the 10K.
The teams will compete in many nationally relevant races such as the Oxy Distance Carnival and the Stanford Invitational, but there is one in particular coach Tribble is looking forward to. "Mt. Sac is arguably the best meet year in and year out, and it's back in the new facilities now, so it should be a fantastic meet leading into the final regular-season meet."
The teams will start the season at the Pomona-Pitzer College Collegiate All Comers meet on Saturday, February 15th.
Expectations for the spring track season are fueled by CBU's successes in the fall cross country campaign. Both teams finished the season ranked, with the women ranked 30th in the nation and fifth in the West Region. The men finished ninth in the West Region.
The women's team won the WAC Championship in historic fashion, sweeping the top five spots—a feat which had never been done before in conference history.
The men's squad claimed the fourth through seventh-place spots at the WAC Championships to see four runners named First Team All-WAC honorees.
🏆 CHAMPIONS! 🏆
— CBU Lancers (@CBULancers) November 2, 2019
The women repeated as WAC champions while the men were edged out by Utah Valley for a second-place finish at the 2019 WAC Championships. Anett Somogyi claimed the women's individual title again.
👉 https://t.co/IbgRqFOEXV#LanceUp⚔️ | @USTFCCCA | #WACxc
Among the returners from last season are Emilie Renaud, Anett Somogyi, and Anna Mate.
Renaud dominated the WAC's steeplechase scene in 2019, tallying the fastest steeplechase time in the WAC on her first collegiate attempt at the event, capped off by winning the steeplechase event at the WAC Championships to become the first-ever WAC track champion in women's program history.
"Emilie is in good form right now and moving in a direction to make big progress compared to what she's done in the past," said Head Coach Adam Tribble when contemplating the upcoming season, "she's showing those intangibles like her work ethic, tenacity, focus, and maturity, that will take her to a special place."
Somogyi set the standard in the WAC in 2019, running the best 5,000 meter and 10,000 meter times of anyone in the conference. Somogyi also was an All-WAC honoree for her performance in the 10,000 meter at the WAC Championships.
Mate proved to be one of the top competitors last season in the WAC as well. Mate ran the second and third fastest times in the WAC, respectively, in the 5,000 meter and 10,000 meter in 2019.
Feeling RUNderful!#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/NuLvQrHLA7
— CBU XC & Track (@CBUXCTF) January 21, 2020
While there are plenty of new faces on the men's side, returners McMarshal Hartzenberg and Zlatko Kozuhar bring a lot to the table for the Lancers.
Hartzenberg grabbed a spot on the podium in last year's 10,000 meter competition at the WAC Championships.
Coach Tribble sees high marks in store for Hartzenberg this season, "I can't say enough about the progress he has made since last year. He has been working really hard and has had a great attitude, and if he can stay healthy and keep doing what he's been doing, he can run some really impressive marks."
Kozuhar laid claim to top-five times in both the 5,000 meter and 10,000 meter in the WAC last season.
😁
— CBU XC & Track (@CBUXCTF) January 13, 2020
First practice feels!#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/gjj5qhjdYd
In addition to the returning talent, the freshman class that was tabbed as the third and fourth-ranked recruiting classes for the men and women, respectively, by the Stride Report is now ready to make their mark after an impressive cross country season.
Rikus van Niekerk and Roman Zozulya are the newest additions to CBU's roster as spring enrollees and will be joined by Ivo Balabanov as Lancers who will make their CBU debuts on the track.
"Ivo is a monster, we are really excited to see him run in the CBU jersey," said Tribble. "He is a special athlete with the potential to run some marks that should be very, very impressive not just for CBU or the WAC, but for the entire NCAA."
Van Niekerk is a 1,500 and 5,000-meter specialist from South Africa. He ran three sub-four-minute 1500-meter races in his home country already last year, highlighted by a personal best time of three minutes, 55.62 seconds on Mach 16. He has also set a new best in the 5,000 last year, with a 14:50.59 just two weeks later.
Zozulia is a Ukrainian 5,000 and 10,000-meter runner who represented his home country in the Euro U20 Championships in 2019. Zozulia has personal best times of 14:38.52 in the 5K and 30:17.60 in the 10K.
The teams will compete in many nationally relevant races such as the Oxy Distance Carnival and the Stanford Invitational, but there is one in particular coach Tribble is looking forward to. "Mt. Sac is arguably the best meet year in and year out, and it's back in the new facilities now, so it should be a fantastic meet leading into the final regular-season meet."
The teams will start the season at the Pomona-Pitzer College Collegiate All Comers meet on Saturday, February 15th.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Track
/ Men's Track
/ Men's Track
/ Women's Track
/ Women's Track
/ Women's Track
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