Hartnell Women Perform Well in San Diego

Traveling to San Diego for the first time in program history proved fruitful for the Hartnell women's cross coutnry team. Running in the largest field they have faced, the Panthers finished a commendable seventh overall and just four points from taking sixth overall and beating another top Northern California team, the College of the Sequioas. The veteran leaders Sofia Camacho and Ashley Ochoa provide a strong upfront attack and then a group of five freshmen are beginning to learn to trust and race very close together in time for the championship season. 

Facing the top runner from Southern California in Marikay Schwab of Golden West College, Camacho was the only one in the field to give chase after Schwab broke from the field in the first half mile. She would run among the top five most of the race until unleashing her All-American track speed to catch two runners in the final 400 meters of the race. The former North Salinas grad and returning cross country All-American, finished third overall in 19:07 trailing only Schwab and NJCAA national runner-up Kate Brockman of Mesa Community College. Camacho will look to become Hartnell's fourth ever two-time cross country All-American. Ochoa also provided a low team point moving up to twelft overall and seventh for CCCAA women. She broke 20 minutes for the 5k course running 19:55 and was just five seconds from being the fourth CCCAA female. Freshman Maria Garcia has been a consistent third runner and she ran her fastest race of the year in 22:45. She was followed by Lapis Hernandez (23:46), Ilianna Martinez (23:53), Jade Pimentel (24:30), and Ana Martinez (28:52). 

The Panther women will host the Toro Park Invitational on Friday, October 14 starting at 3:30pm. Camacho and Ochoa will look to put themselves on the Hartnell College All-Time Top 10 Toro Park list.