Hartnell Women Place Second at Monterey Bay Invitational

Freshmen Alexandra Campos (right) and Jimena Hernandez (left) cross the finish line at the Monterey Bay Invitational at the Palo Corona Cross Country Course.
Freshmen Alexandra Campos (right) and Jimena Hernandez (left) cross the finish line at the Monterey Bay Invitational at the Palo Corona Cross Country Course.
Photos Results
September 17, 2023

In 2022, the Big Sur Marathon Foundation in partnership with the Monterey Regional Parks District created the Palo Corona Cross Country Course. The Monterey Bay Invitational hosted by Monterey Peninsula College was the first community college event to take place on the course with teams from MPC, Hartnell College, De Anza College, College of San Mateo, and Simpson College in attendance. The women competed over a sligthly longer than 5k course with the men utilizing the 2k and 1k loop configuration to get a near 4 mile version on the course. Palo Corona will serve as host for the 2023 Coast Conference Championship on Wednesday, October 25. 

Sophomore Andrea Villegas won her second consecutive race and found the rolling terrain of Palo Corona to her liking. She covered the course in a swift 18:53, her second performance of the year under 19 minutes. She was 1:59 seconds ahead of the second community college finisher as she continues to solidify her position as the top female in Northern California. A pair of freshmen in Alexandra Campos and Jimena Hernandez seventh and eighth overall in 22:24 and 22:25. Sophomore Maria Garcia was eleventh in 22:44. Lapis Hernandez (24:02) was seventeenth to round out the team scoring. Ana Martinez was right behind in 24:09 with freshman Dominique Cervantes-Samudio debuting in 24:30. Despite being without top Norcal runner Roselyn Olivo for this week, the Panthers only finished one point away from winning but conceding victory to the host Lobos of MPC 38-39. 

The Panthers will return Olivo this coming Friday at the George Brooks Memorial Invitational at Hidden Valley Park in Martinez, CA. The meet will serve as the Norcal Preview Meet for the the 2023 Northern California Championship set to be hosted by Diablo Valley College. 

Hartnell Women's Results (3.15 miles)

1. Andrea Villegas 18:53
7. Alexandra Campos 22:24
8. Jimena Hernandez 22:25
11. Maria Garcia 22:44
17. Lapis Hernandez 24:02
18. Ana Martinez 24:09
21. Dominique Cervantes-Samudio 24:30
22. Angelina Ybarra 24:44
25. Jade Pimentel 25:10
26. Isabella Rocha 25:13
27. Isabelle Rocha 25:13