PacWest teams were at four different races on the opening weekend of cross country action, with Fresno Pacific looking very impressive to earn Team of the Week. Academy of Art's Grace Southern made a statement in her first race, leading all D2 racers at the USF Invitational on her way to Runner of the Week honors.

2023 Results/Schedule
2023 USTFCCCA National Poll
 
RUNNER OF THE WEEK: Academy of Art's Grace Southern, Jr., Middletown, Calif.                                                        
Running her first cross country race for the Urban Knights, Grace Southern impressed at the University of San Francisco Invitational at Golden Gate Park. Southern, running against mostly Division I competition, turned in a six kilometer time of 21:50 and was the top Division II finisher in the race. That time was the eighth fastest in ART U history and was the fastest time ever for an Urban Knight runner at Golden Gate Park. The Shasta College transfer crossed the line before any runner from No. 1 regionally ranked Stanislaus State. Southern ran the indoor and outdoor track seasons last year for ART U, earning all-conference honors in the 1,500 and 5,000 meters. Her 6K time on Saturday translated to a 5:51.37 mile pace.

TEAM OF THE WEEK: Fresno Pacific Sunbirds                                                                                                                        
Fresno Pacific finished just five points back of No. 5 regionally ranked Cal Poly Pomona at the Seawolf Invitational on FPU's home course of Woodward Park. The Broncos came in with 32 points and the Sunbirds 37, both ahead of Sonoma State (85) and CS Bakersfield (88). Yorkabel Gebrehiwot was FPU's top runner in fourth place with a time of 18:49.57 on the five kilometer course (6:03.39 mile pace), with teammates Alexa Queenan (5th) and Julissa Avila (6th) right behind her. Queenan crossed the line in 18:55.51 and Avila clocked 18:57.31. Ariana Womack (12th) and Marina Barragan (16th) rounded out the scoring for the Sunbirds with times of 19:39 and 20:13 respectively. "That was the fastest team time we have run as a season-opener ever," head coach Ray Winter said. "The trio of Yorkabel, Alexa, and Julissa, up front really set the tone for the rest of the ladies, and is an indicator of some impressive front running that will happen all season."
 
PACWEST NEWS AND NOTES: ART U and Dominican both competed at Golden Gate Park, but didn't enter enough runners for a team score...Southern finished 26th overall in a field that featured Stanford, Boise State and California as the top three finishing teams. The next D2 runner behind her was Stanislaus State's Holly Little, a St. Leo transfer that competed at the NCAA Championships last fall...Katharina Goetschal was the next Urban Knight behind Southern in 22:33. Dominican's top runner was Courtney Santos in 25:41...Point Loma sent runners to the Vanguard Invitation at Irvine Regional Park, with Chelsea Ochoa leading the Sea Lions on the 5K course with a time of 21:17.27 (10th place)...All three Hawai`i teams raced at the Big Wave Invitational on Oahu's North Shore. Chaminade's Maria Steinke was the PacWest's top runner in 12th place on the 5K course with a time of 21:09. Teammate Nikiji Dayse was next in 14th (21:19) in the race that was dominated by host University of Hawai`i. Carly Dyer (22:01) had Hawai`i Pacific's top time and Olivia Jarvis was Hawai`i Hilo's top runner (24:13). Chaminade (third place) defeated Hawai`i Pacific (fourth place) for the first time. 

LOOKING AHEAD: Four PacWest teams are in action next week. No. 3 regionally ranked and defending PacWest champion Biola makes their 2023 debut on Friday at their own race in Fullerton, joined by new PacWest member Westmont. On Saturday, Academy of Art will compete at the Kim Duyst Twilight Invitational, hosted by Stanislaus State in Ceres, Calif, while Concordia will compete at the Coyote Challenge, hosted by Cal State San Bernardino.