XC Preview: CBU Set to Compete in Loaded West Regional Field this Friday with National Bids on the Line

Friday, November 14

Sacramento, CA

9 AM- Women's 6K, 10 AM- Men's 10K

California Baptist University

NCAA West Regionals

Photo by: Ryley Collom

XC Preview: CBU Set to Compete in Loaded West Regional Field this Friday with National Bids on the Line

11/12/2025 10:51:00 AM | Cross Country & Track

By: Ryley Collom, Assistant Director of Athletic Communications & Digital Media

RIVERSIDE--- Following a successful sweep of the Western Athletic Conference Championships, the California Baptist University cross-country team will now set its sights on the NCAA West Regional this Friday in Sacramento.

CBU took home both titles in Arlington less than two weeks ago and is now in the hunt to earn bids to Nationals. Placing top two will earn an automatic bid, and due to the depth of the West Region, there will be plenty of at-large bids to go around as well.

The men enter Regionals as the #17 team in the nation and are currently ranked #3 in the highly competitive West Region. The region features four nationally ranked teams, including #7 Oregon, #11 Washington State, and #29 Boise State. The depth of the region also includes solid programs such as Stanford, Gonzaga, Portland, and Washington. The Lancers have earned a trip to Nationals the past two seasons, with last year being the most successful when they placed 13th. Valentin Soca will lead the CBU men's team after being consistently ranked among the top 7 individuals in the country and being named the WAC Athlete of the Year. Soca was an All-American last season at Nationals, placing 33rd. He will be joined by a deep group that includes Gabriel Guzman, Victor Rosas, Ernesto Ruiz, Jude DeVries, Brett Rushman, Pedro Marin, and Finn Anspach.

The women will also look to earn their way back to the national stage after falling short last season. The women have two trips to the national tournament under their belt, advancing to the Big Dance in 2022 and 2023, during the first two seasons the program was eligible. This time around, the Lancers will enter as the seventh-highest-ranked team in the West Region behind #4 Oregon, #14 Stanford, #18 Washington, #24 Washington State, #28 Gonzaga, and Boise State. The women have the firepower to make a run, led by Ole Miss transfers Sarah Schiffman and Emilia Mikszuta, who both showed well at the WAC Championships. The CBU sophomore class has also been excellent, with Helena Mees, Karolina Bliujute, Ava Dyck, and Ceyda Pinar all having phenomenal seasons.

Head Coach Sean Smith will aim to send both of his teams to Nationals on Friday, with the races set to begin at 9 AM for the Women and 10 AM for the Men in Sacramento, CA.