Vanguard raced to an impressive second place finish at the Pomona-Pitzer Cross Country Invitational on Saturday, led by newcomer Lauren Pahl's third place crossing. Pahl ran 21:37 on the six kilometer course with teammate Ella Murray not too far behind her in sixth (21:55).

2025 Results/Schedule
2025 USTFCCCA Regional and National Polls
 
RUNNER OF THE WEEK: Vanguard's Lauren Pahl, Fr., Prior Lake, Minn.                                                                        
Vanguard's Lauren Pahl ran the best race of her young career with a third place finish at the Pomona-Pitzer Cross Country Invitational. The freshman from Minnesota was the first Vanguard runner to cross the finish line for the first time this year, bettering her previous best six kilometer clocking by over a minute with a time of 21:37.  Pahl just missed a second place crossing by a second behind Cal Poly Pomona's Vivian Martinez (21:36) in a race won by The Master's Suzie Johnson, an NAIA national champion in the indoor 5K. Pahl finished 13th and 20th in her first two college races before Saturday's breakthrough. 

TEAM OF THE WEEK: Vanguard Lions                                                                                                                                   
Vanguard finished second in a good field of 19 teams at the annual Pomona-Pitzer Invitational in Claremont on Saturday. The Lions had three runners in the top 11 to compile 77 points to finish behind champion and nationally ranked Cal Poly Pomona (48) and in front of host Pomona-Pitzer (123). Freshman Lauren Pahl was the top runner for the Lions with a suprise third place finish, and she was followed by sixth place Ella Murray. Kate Baranski was 11th (22:06) with Madyson Nakamura next in 23rd (22:32) and Kaitlyn Smith rounding out the scoring in 22:57 (35th). The Lions were second in their own invitational to start the season and were the top D2 team at The Master's Invitational a few weeks ago. 

PACWEST NEWS AND NOTES: At Pomona-Pitzer, Azusa Pacific ran with a shortened crew to finish ninth, led by Naomi Sotelo in 18th (22:22). Sofia Vasquez was next for the Cougars in 29th (22:42)...Westmont was 11th and Hawaii Pacific 17th. Biola ran a few funners but not enough to compile a team score...Dominican and Jessup ran at the University of Pacific Invite to finish fourth and fifth respectively. Jessup's Angela Gladysh finished a strong fourth overall in 22:19 on the 6K course, while Dominican's top runner was Bella Bueno in 11th (23:45). 

LOOKING AHEAD: PacWest teams will be a bit spread out next Saturday at four different meets. Azusa Pacific and Concordia will compete at the San Francisco State Invite, while Hawaii Hilo will host Hawaii Pacific and Chaminade on the Big Island. Point Loma will stay in San Diego at the Manny Bautista Invite, and Biola will trek across the country to take on some of the nation's best at the Lewis Crossover in Illinois...The Pacific West Conference Championships are now less than three weeks out, to be hosted by Hawaii Pacific on Oahu at the Hawaii Country Club on October 25.