SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The ninth-ranked Cal State San Marcos men's cross country team returns to action Saturday, Oct. 4 for the Pomona-Pitzer Cross Country Invite in Pomona College's Blanchard Park in Claremont, CA.

OFFICIAL RACE SITE: Click Here

RACE TIMES:
7:45am – Men's 8K
8:30am – Women's 6K

COURSE: The course in Blanchard Park, commonly known as "The Wash," is a tough course with a repeating loop (men: 3 loops, women: 2 loops), plus a start section (lower soccer field) before the loops, and a finish section (blue track) after the loops.

PARTICIPATING TEAMS: Cal State San Marcos, Azusa Pacific, Cal Poly Pomona, Caltech, Cal Lutheran, Chapman, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, Cal State Bakersfield, Colorado College, La Verne, Marymount College, The Master's, Occidental, Pomona-Pitzer, Redlands, Soka, Vanguard, Westmont, and Whittier College.

2013 POMONA-PITZER CROSS COUNTRY INVITE RESULT: CSUSM placed third with 86 points behind winner Cal Poly Pomona (36 points) and host Pomona-Pitzer (65 points). The Cougars were led by junior Steven Ing, who finished second overall with a time of 25:11.4. Also in the top twenty for the Cougars were then seniors Western Nelson (26:02.9) and Eric Brockoff (26:03.5), finishing 15th and 16th respectively. Rounding out the points for CSUSM were juniors Caesar Castillo, placing 26th (26:21.6), and Daniel Ybarra, placing 27th (26:22.9).
 
LAST TIME OUT: The Cougars won the Third Annual Mustang Challenge in Santa Clarita with 72 points, defeating NCAA Division I Cal State Fullerton by 12 points. Leading the way for CSUSM was junior Enrique Ramirez, finishing fourth with a time of 26:04.6. Also in the top 25 for the Cougars were freshman Andrew Tellamaes, placing 12th (26:14.5), and junior Zach Laurenzana placing 22nd (26:16.5),
 
PROGRAM HISTORY: The CSUSM men's cross country has finished in the top 20 at the NAIA national championship every season since the program began in 1999.  The Cougars' top program finish was in 2011 when they captured second place.  Marcus Chandler was CSUSM's best finisher in program history at 12th in 1999.
 
LEGEND AT THE HELM: Considered one of the greatest mile runners in American history, CSUSM head coach Steve Scott started the Cougar cross country and track & field programs in the 1999-2000 season.  He has coached over 135 All-Americans and been named NAIA Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year three times. He has also been selected Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.) Cross Country Coach of the Year 10 times. 

TRACK THE COUGARS: There are now more ways than ever to stay in tune with your favorite CSUSM teams. To receive all news regarding the men's cross country team directly to your inbox, sign up for Cougar Update. Every prerace story, postrace story, and news posted to CSUSMcougars.com will be sent directly to you. Also, fans can sign up for text message updates to receive scores right after the games, and CSUSM's weekly email digest, Cougar Tracks.

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