Chaminade makes history and Biola tops three other PacWest teams in Riverside to highlight action this week in Pacific West Conference women’s cross country.

2022 Results/Schedule
2022 USTFCCCA National Poll
 
RUNNER OF THE WEEK: Chaminade’s Zoe McDonough, So., Fremont, Calif.                                                         
Zoe McDonough won the Chaminade Invitational and in the process etched her name in her school’s record books. McDonough, who won the race by five seconds over Hawaii Pacific’s Karen Corona Perez with a time of 20:13 on the five kilometer course, became the first Silversword to win a cross country race of any kind since 2012 (Emily Oschner, Chaminade Invitational). Additionally, she is the first 'Sword to win a race that was five kilometers or longer in 31 years, dating back to 1991. The sophomore from Fremont, Calif. is also the first Chaminade runner to ever win a PacWest Runner of the Week award, joining Alena Albertson in the PacWest winner column. Albertson was a Freshman of the Week in 2019.

TEAM OF THE WEEK: Biola Eagles                                                                                                                                      
Biola wins the Team of the Week this time outright, after sharing the award with Concordia last week. The Eagles finished 10^th of 31 teams in a loaded UC Riverside Invitational, topping three other PacWest schools in the process—Concordia (15^th), Academy of Art (25^th) and Fresno Pacific (29^th). Biola was also the top non-Division I team in a field loaded with D-I squads. Lynette Ruiz was the first Biola runner, finishing 39^th with a six kilometer time of 21:12. Bethany Mapes was 54^th (21:26) and Grace Catena was 55^th, also in 21:26 to help the Eagle cause.

PACWEST NEWS AND NOTES: In that UCR race, Concordia’s Jori Paradis was the top PacWest finisher in 21:00. Her teammate Madeline Jahshan was 64^th in 21:31…Academy of Art’s top runner in Riverside was Lisa Redliinger (21:48) and FPU’s was Julissa Avila (22:19)…Back in Hawaii, the Sharks took positions 2-3-4-5 behind McDonough to win the Chaminade Invitational with 22 points. The host Silverswords were next, just edging Hawaii Hilo (51-57)...In the latest USTFCCCA National Division II poll, Biola checks in at 24th and Azusa Pacific is 28th.

LOOKING AHEAD: Six of the 11 PacWest women’s cross country teams will be at the Cougar Challenge in San Marcos this Saturday (Sept. 24). Competing on the Cal State San Marcos campus course will be Chaminade, Hawaii Pacific, Dominican, Concordia, Azusa Pacific and Point Loma.