Villegas and Olivo All-Americans to Lead Hartnell to High Finish

Andrea Villegas (far left second row) and Roselyn Olivo (far right second from end) both earn All-American honors at the 3C2A State Championship.
Andrea Villegas (far left second row) and Roselyn Olivo (far right second from end) both earn All-American honors at the 3C2A State Championship.
Results
November 19, 2023

The 2023 Hartnell College women's cross country team concluded the season with a stellar fifth place finish at the 3C2A State Championship in Fresno. Running over the 5k course at Woodward Park, the Panthers outperformed their statewide sixth ranking to beat Glendale College who had previously beaten the Panthers at the Mt. SAC Invitational. The Panthers placed fiifth overall and second for Northern Cailfornia team. In addition, Andrea Villegas and Roselyn Olivo gave the Panthers two All-Americans in the same year for the sixth time since 2014.

Andrea Villegas entered the 2023 championship as the conference and Norcal champion. Villegas was in the disscussion for the overall title but would only finish an improved eighth place overall in 18:37. After passing the mile mark in 5:40 and two miles in 11:40 with the top five women, Villegas just couldn't match the quickening pace over the last mile in the rain. She does improve upon her All-State finish from 2021 and becomes one of Hartnell's highest placing finishers at the State Championship. Behind her appears to be the next contender in freshman Roselyn Olivo. The Alvarez grad, ran fearless amongst the leaders for the first two miles and valiantly held on her a solid 13th place finish in her first State Championship. Her time of 18:57 makes her the tenth fastest in program history passing another Alvarez graduate and former Woodward Park program record holder Victoria Alcala. Freshmen Jimena Hernandez (20:43), Dominique Cervantes-Samudio (21:04), and Alexandra Campos (21:24) rounded out the scoring five all running course personal bests. Sophomore Maria Garcia concluded her career in 21:36. Freshman Isabelle Rocha (22:44) shaved nearly two minutes off her time from the start of the season.

This year's women's program won a Coast Conference title, five all-conference runners, a Norcal second place team finish, two all-region honors, and two All-Americans. With Olivo, Hernandez, Cervantes-Samudio, Campos and Rocha all returning from the top seven, the Panthers will look to cotend for the Norcal title and a top 3 state finish in 2024.