Hartnell Men Place Make History at Mt. SAC Invitational
After posting a perfect record against Northern California competition, the Hartnell men challenged themselves with the most difficult cross country course Southern California community college has to offer at the Mt. SAC Invitational. In addition to the famed hills in Walnut, the Panthers would face the recently voted top ranked team Mt. SAC. Hartnell entered the competition with the third ranking and after a close victory 29 to 35, Hartnell College should find itself in the never seen position of top ranked heading into the championship portion of the season.
The Hartnell men won the meet thanks to a top seven grouping of just 35 seconds, their smallest differential of the season. Sophomore Isaac Gensel lead the charge as he sought Hartnell's third ever individual winner. Gensel would charge for the front in the final mile but come up short by just 1.9 seconds timed in 21:24. Elijah Ocegueda of Mt. SAC would hold on for the win in 21:22. The team battle would appear in Mt. SAC's favor with three in the top four but then a wave of Panthers would flood the top eleven all separated by only 15 seconds. Esteban Deniz (21:44) was fifth, Eli Ainworth (21:46) placed sixth, Jose Velazquez (21:49) in seventh enjoyed his best race of the season, Daniel Correa (21:56) was ninth, Frankie Maciel (21:58) tenth, and freshman Mario Avila (21:59) rounded out the seven in eleventh. This was the first time in school history seven runners had ever placed inside the top 14 overall. Freshman Ricky Diaz III went out aggressively the first two miles in top four would hold on for 23rd (22:56).
The Panthers remain undefeated on the season and have only defending state champion San Diego Mesa College as the only top four ranked team they have yet to face and beat. They will not see San Diego Mesa until the CCCAA State Championship on November 20th at Woodward Park in Fresno.
