California Baptist University
NCAA DI West Regionals
The Lancers Continue at West Regionals with the Men's 5K
5/24/2024 5:57:00 PM | Cross Country & Track
FAYETTEVILLE, AR--- Day three of the DI West Regionals continued from John McDonnell Field in Fayetteville, Arkansas, on Friday evening as the California Baptist University track team competed in the Men's 5K.
Valentin Soca, fresh off his Men's 10K qualifying run on Wednesday, along with Matias Reynaga, were the competitors for the Lancers in the two-heat race. Soca was in the first heat and was looking for his second qualifying event after nabbing the final spot in the 10K.
Soca began the heat in the lead group and would continue that pace through the first 2000 meters of the race. Soca would slide back into the larger pack as the race hit the halfway point, and he would eventually settle for the remainder of the run. Soca would ultimately finish 15th in the 5K with a time of 14:26.74.
Reynaga would follow Soca in the second heat of the race, seeking to stamp his ticket to Eugene to the National Championships. Reynaga fell short in the 10K race on Wednesday night and would come up just short in the 5K as well. Reynaga's positioning fluctuated throughout the race but would eventually pull away with a group of 11 as the runners approached the final 1,500 meters. The top runners would make their final push for the finish line as Reynaga would place 6th at a time of 14:04.68. The top 5 were automatic qualifiers, and the next two fastest times would also advance. Reynaga came up two spots short of qualifying, missing the cutoff by 12 seconds. Reynaga would finish 15th overall in the 5K event.
Reynaga's fantastic season comes to a close, where he was the 1.5K Men's Champion at the Outdoor Western Athletic Conference Championships. Reynaga also set his personal best time in the 10K at the Stanford Invitational, clocking in at a time of 28:14.96. Reynaga became the second male athlete to make it to Regionals in consecutive seasons and qualified for two events.
NEXT: The Lancers will conclude the DI West Regionals on Saturday afternoon as they compete in the Women's Steeplechase and Women's 5K. Watch the events live on ESPN+
Players Mentioned
