Olivo Wins, Panthers Repeat Title
The Hartnell College women won their second consecutive Coast Conference Cross Country Championship last Wednesday. The Panther women were able to secure the victory 29 to 35 over conference rival De Anza College. On the strength of five runners in the top 14, the Panthers have now won three of the last four Coast Conference team titles.
Sophomore Roselyn Olivo was the runner-up as a freshman behind teammates Andrea Villegas. This year, Olivo lead from the start with Ericka Dorn of College of San Mateo in tow. Before the two mile mark, Olivo would press the pace and extend her lead to 50 meters. Not too far behind was freshman Janai Orozco running in third just ahead of Joselin Joya Camacho of De Anza College. Also in the top seven through two miles was Jimena Hernandez-Tejeda. At the finish line, Olivo would cross first with a comfortable margin of five seconds. Her time of 19:08 moves her to #20 all-time in Hartnell history. Janai Orozo would hold on to fourth overall in 19:49, a nearly three minute improvement from her senior year CCS time. Hernandez-Tejeda earned a second all-conference honor with her eighth place finish in a personal best 20:23. Freshman Lucero Benigno-Ramos covered the Crystal Springs course faster than she had ever with her thirteenth place finish in 22:13. Freshman Cristal Baeza also earned top 14 all-conference honors finishing one sport behind Benigno-Ramos in 22:47. Karen Perez was seventeenth in 23:03 and Isabelle Rocha nineteenth in 23:13 to round out the top seven women.
The Panthers will compete next at the 2024 Northern California Regional Championship on Friday, November 8th at Toro Park. The women's 3 mile will start at 10:00am with the men's race following at 11:00am. The Hartnell women are currently ranked second in Northern California.
Hartnell Women's Results
19:08 Roselyn Olivo
19:49 Janai Orozco
20:23 Jimena Hernandez-Tejeda
22:13 Lucero Benigno-Ramos
22:47 Cristal Baeza
23:03 Karen Perez
23:13 Isabelle Rocha
23:52 Isabella Rocha
24:19 Natalia Tapia San Miguel