Overall Results
Team Results
Team Scoring
Age-Group Results

SAN MARCOS, Calif.— The Cal State San Marcos women's cross country team did what they do best Saturday at the 2012 Cougar Challenge— win races. On a crisp morning, the three-time defending NAIA National Champion Cougars asserted themselves once again as a powerhouse to be reckoned with, winning for the 10^th time in their last 11 meets dating back to last year.

The Cougars finished with 18 points total and defeated second place finisher and 16^th ranked Concordia, who scored 40. Cuyamaca College finished third overall with 82.  The field also consisted of several members of the San Diego Dirt Dog Series and plenty of members from the general San Diego running community, including the master's division (70+ years) national champion team from San Diego Track Club.

The individual winner was Paula Whiting, who ran 17:01 and came within six seconds of former Cougar Dallon Williams' course record of 16:55. Jenna Munguia finished second in 17:11, and former CSUSM All-American and current assistant coach Whitney Patton finished 3^rd in 17:17.

Not far behind were current Cougar All-Americans Kelly Thompson and Chelsey Cortez, who finished fourth and fifth overall in 17:20 and 17:25, respectfully. The duo were the top two collegiate runners in the field, and CSUSM junior Ayded Reyes was third with a time of 17:48. Heidi Swanson was the fifth collegiate scorer in 17:56 and freshman Meghan Hamlin (18:14) closed the book on the Cougar scoring with seven points.

Cal State San Marcos will compete next at the A.I.I. Conference Championship meet, held once again at the Mangrum Track and Soccer Field on Saturday, November 3. The top ranked Cougars will face a challenge from conference rival and second ranked British Columbia as they look to clinch their fifth consecutive conference crown.