CSUN Shoots for Confidence-Builder After Embarrassing Race at Stanford

After a disappointing finish at last week’s Stanford Invitational, the Cal State Northridge men’s cross-country team will attempt to regroup today in the Northridge Invitational at CSUN.

The women’s 5,000-meter race starts at 4:30 p.m. and the men’s five-mile race begins at 5:15.

Northridge, ranked 18th in the NCAA Division II men’s poll, finished 12th at Stanford.

Will James was Northridge’s top finisher, clocking 32 minutes, 26.3 seconds over the 10,000-meter course to place 24th. Freshman Jorge Castro placed 51st in 33:15.0.

“We need to run a smart, more evenly paced race on Saturday,” Coach Don Strametz said. “We need a confidence-builder. Last week was a negative experience for most of the guys.”

In contrast, the CSUN women ran well.

Darcy Arreola, who was recovering from the flu, clocked 17:35.1 over the 5,000-meter course to place ninth, leading the Northridge team to a ninth-place finish.

Northridge, UCLA, Cal State L.A., UC Riverside, Southern Utah State and USC are expected to compete in the men’s race.