Hartnell Men Display Team Strength on Mt. SAC’s Historic Course

At the 77th Mt. SAC Invitational, celebrated as "The Largest Cross Country Invitational on the Planet," the Hartnell College men's and women's teams rose to the challenge of one of Southern California's toughest courses. Both Panther squads left Mt. SAC with hard-earned runner-up finishes and strong momentum heading into the post-season in November.

In the men's 4 mile race, featuring two trips up the infamous "switchbacks" hill, the Panthers emerged as the second best team to host Mt. SAC. The Panthers did put up a valiant effort placing all seven runners in the top 21 overall but the host had nine to outdo the visiting team. Sophomore Alvaro Ruelas continues to build momentum toward the post-season with a solid sixth place finish in 21:57. Fellow sophomores Ivan Martinez-Galindo (22:16) and Gabriel Clemente Altamirano (22:17) finished in ninth and tenth just one second apart. Leyder Hernandez picked up the final medal in fifteenth (22:30). The pair of freshmen in Jose Contreras, Jr. (22:31) and Giovanni Ochoa (22:32) seventeenth and eighteenth with Giancarlo Mendo (22:59) as the seventh runner in twenty first place. The Panthers scored 47 points compared to Mt. SAC with 20 points.  

The Hartnell College men's team will attempt to regain the Coast Conference Championship team title when they host the championship at Toro Park on Wednesday, October 29th.