California Baptist University
NCAA DI Outdoor National Championships
OTF Preview: Soca Seeking to Make History at NCAA Nationals
6/10/2025 11:27:00 AM | Cross Country & Track
RIVERSIDE--- The season for the California Baptist University track team will come down to Friday night in Eugene, Oregon, as Valentin Soca is set to compete in the Men's 5K at the NCAA National Championships.
Soca earned his way to the finals after recording the second fastest time in the West Region Prelims in College Station, Texas, and will be heading to the Big Dance for the second consecutive season. Soca's regional time of 13:26.88 was not only second in the West Region but second overall in the prelims behind only Matt Strangio of Portland. During the non-championship season, Soca held the third fastest time in the NCAA this season behind only Habtom Samuel and Ishmael Kipkurui of New Mexico, who is also in the final field. Soca's time of 13:13.10, which he posted at the 2025 Bryan Clay Invitational, is the seventh-fastest time in NCAA history and, consequently, the program record for the Lancers.
The Men's 5K field features stiff competition with several returning All-Americans and many notable newcomers. Among the returning All-Americans in the field will be the aforementioned Samuel, who finished 6th in the 5K last season and was the 10K Champion for the Lobos, Toby Gillen of Ole Miss, and David Mullarkey of Florida State. Other notable names in the field include North Carolina's Ethan Strand, Northern Arizona's Drew Bosley, and Ernest Cheruiyot of Texas Tech.
Soca is seeking to become the first three-time All-American in program history after earning All-American status during cross-country season this year and in the 10K last season during Outdoor Season. The junior has already compiled quite a resume during his time in Riverside and will look to add another impressive footnote to his impressive career.
RACE INFORMATION:
WHEN: Friday, June 13 at 6:55 PM PT
WHERE: Hayward Field- Eugene, OR
WATCH: ESPN2
Players Mentioned
