RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The San Diego men's and women's cross country programs competed at UC Riverside for the second time this season, as the Toreros concluded the regular season at the Highlander Invite.
 
The women's team led the way with a 13th place finish and point total of 348. The men took home 14th place with a point total of 372.
 
Sophomore Madeleine Heller led all Toreros on the women's side with a 54th place finish and personal best of 21:35.8 on the 6K course. On the men's side, graduate student Ethan Steiner clocked in at 25:00.5 to take 61st and lead the men's team.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Much like her previous run at UC Riverside this season, Heller vaulted herself into a stronger position on the final leg of the race. Heller stood in 71st through the first 4K, but bounced back for a personal best.
• Sophomore Daniella Hubble also registered a PR, clocking in at 22:13.7 to take 82nd.
• Redshirt sophomore Aryam Jaimes (22:30.4), senior Macey Holt (22:35.3) and junior Sophia Hamstreet (22:56.6) rounded out the top-five Toreros, with Jaimes and Hamstreet also clocking PR's.
• Steiner and graduate student Ian Converse formed another dynamic duo at the head of the pack for the Toreros, with Converse clocking an 8K PR of 25:06.5 to take 64th on the 8K course.
• Sophomore Jake Coleman was next across the line in 87th, finishing with a time of 25:30.8.
• Junior Will Stefanou (26:02.8 and 117th) and junior Russell Gokemeijer (26:21.1 and 136th) rounded out the top-five Torero men.

 
TORERO TIDBITS

• Heller continues her strong run of form at UC Riverside, besting her previous PR on the course for the second straight time, this time shaving another six seconds off her best a few weeks ago.
• 12 Torero women recorded PR's on the day.
• Senior transfer Daniela De La Torre Garcia made her Torero debut on the 6K course.

 
UP NEXT
Both Torero programs will enter the postseason and compete in the 2022 WCC Championships, hosted in Portland, Ore., on October 28.