CBU Cross Country Claims Its Highest Rankings in Program History
10/18/2023 10:18:00 AM | Cross Country & Track
RIVERSIDE--- The California Baptist University cross-country teams received their highest ranking from the United States Track and Field Cross Country Coaches Association in its history.
The men were ranked fifth in the national polls after placing fourth in the Nuttycombe Invitational on Friday. The Invitational was loaded with 55 of the 60 ranked programs participating in the championship races. The freezing rain and muddy course could not bring the Lancers down, as both teams earned top-10 finishes.
🚨New Rankings🚨
— CBU XC & Track (@CBUXCTF) October 17, 2023
The men have moved to 5th in the national polls, the highest in the history of the program!! They are also #1 in the West Region after an incredible showing at the Nuttycombe Invitational. 🔥📈#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/B8tMnAr0DP
Arturs Medveds was the top placer for the men, placing 23rd in the 275-runner field. Medveds was also the top finisher at the Roy Griak Invitational in early September, coming in fourth. Behind Arturs was Giedrius Valincius, who garnered a top-50 finish at 24:06.8. Matias Reynaga, Rikus Van Niekerk, and Valentin Soca all earned top-80 finishes, with Reynaga topping the group at 57th. CBU beat out nationally-ranked programs such as #6 Texas, #7 Harvard, and #9 Colorado in the loaded field.
The fifth-place ranking is the highest in the program's history, and the finish placed CBU ahead of Stanford, Butler, Texas, Air Force, Notre Dame, Villanova, Syracuse, and Wisconsin, all of which checked with higher rankings than the Lancers in the previous poll. CBU only trails Northern Arizona, Oklahoma State, BYU, and Syracuse nationally and is the highest-ranked team in the West Region.
The women also made waves in the national polls at 12th, the highest in the program's history. The women earned the ranking after an incredible showing in Madison, where they placed eighth.
🚨Top 15🚨
— CBU XC & Track (@CBUXCTF) October 17, 2023
The women remain in the top 15 in the latest national polls. 🔥👏#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/eoMiaYsSIR
Yasna Petrova was the only CBU runner in the top 50 through the initial 2K stretch. Still, a crucial push over the next 2,000 meters saw Grace McLaughlin and Greta Karinauskiate gain significant ground and enter themselves into the top 55. In the end, Mclaughlin pushed to the top 30 with a 29th place finish, running an astounding 20:32.3 mark, and was the first Lancer across the line.
Petrova came in second amongst the CBU runners in 35th place at 20:36.6. Petrova, no stranger to top finishes, was the Lancer's top finisher at the program's first-ever trip to Nationals a season ago and once again was a critical part of CBU's incredible finish in the race. Greta Karinauskaite was the third finisher for the Lancers, clocking in at 20:45.0 and finishing in 52nd place. Emilia Mikszuta was the only other Lancer in the top 100, placing 75th of 250 runners.
Rounding out the race for the women were Karin Gosek, Maja Dzialoszewska, Carlota Rodes, and Marina Trave, who all finished in the top 170. The women's eighth-place finish placed them ahead of #8 Washington and #10 Colorado, which were ranked slightly above the Lancers in the recent national poll. On the regional level, CBU checked in at fourth in the latest rankings, trailing Stanford, Oregon, and Oregon State.
Head Coach Adam Tribble loves the momentum the rankings give the team.
"It's exciting to see where both groups are as we head into the championship portion of the season. Once race and one step at a time."
The Lancers will prepare for the championship season, beginning with the Western Athletic Conference Championships in Abilene, Texas, on Friday, October 27th.
Players Mentioned
