SAN DIEGO - Five women recorded personal bests at NCAA Western Regionals, as
Hannah Rasmussen led the team to a 22nd place finish in their final race of the season in Sacramento on Friday.
Rasmussen finished the raced in 52nd place, which is the highest place a Torero has ever received at Regionals. Her time of 21:03 is also a personal best in the 6k.
"That is a great place for a young person that has two years to further blossom,"said head Coach
Will Guarino. "She was in about 110th at the mile and then began racing her way into an outstanding race."
The rest of the women raced in packs to tie the team's highest finish at regionals.
Molly Klein and
Zani Moore recorded personal bests of 22:05 and 22:05, as they rounded out the top three for USD.
"The women's team was driven and focused on bouncing back from the WCC Championship," said Guarino, and they did just that. The Toreros finished ahead of all the teams they beat at WCC and beat Saint Mary's, who placed ahead of them at conference.
Cassidy Kuhn finished fourth for the Toreros at 22:24. The final three runners
Ally Roessling,
Morgan Conn, and
Natalie North-Cole, all finished in a pack at 22:31 and 22:32.
COACH GUARINO'S TAKE
"Our objective was to get back to our trademark of united team pack racing. They leaned on one another to execute our race plan. I was pleased to see them supporting one another and having a sense of belief that transformed into toughness during the last stage of their race. I believe they were in 27 at 1.5 miles and pressed on to finish 22nd showing a desire to finish strong. They did not settle and wanted to make this a season to remember."
