Vanguard is the double winner this week after placing second at the TMU Invite, just two team points behind winner CSU Monterey Bay. Caitlyn Smith placed fifth overall in a large field of 21 teams to claim Runner of the Week.

2026 Results/Schedule
2026 USTFCCCA National and Regional Polls
 
RUNNER OF THE WEEK: Vanguard’s Kaitlyn Smith, Soph., Chino Hills, Calif.                             
Vanguard’s Kaitlyn Smith ran to a fifth-place finish at The Master’s University Invitational at Central Park in Santa Clarita. The sophomore crossed the line in 21:46 in the 6K race. It was another very good race for Smith, who two weeks previous set the Vanguard program record in the 6K with a time of 20:59 at UC Riverside Invite. Smith has been the top Lion runner in each of their first three meets.

TEAM OF THE WEEK: Vanguard Lions                                                                                                                 
Vanguard is the Team of the Week after just narrowly missing the top spot at the TMU Invite on Saturday. The Lions finished with 71 points in the 21-team field, only behind CSU Monterey Bay who had 69. Kaitlyn Smith led the way with a fifth-place finish (see above) with a 6K time of 21:46 and was followed very closely by teammate Ella Murray in 21:55. Madyson Nakamura was 14^th in 22:27 to give VU three runners in the top 14. Zoe Tavares followed in 19^th (22:42) and Giselle Rubio rounded out the scoring in 33^rd (23:10). “Our ladies lit it up today,” said head coach Bryan Wilkins after the race. “We thought a top 3 finish was possible and our depth came through for us again.” Vanguard finished comfortably ahead of third-place Pepperdine (115 points).
 
PACWEST NEWS AND NOTES: Westmont also competed in Santa Clarita, finishing sixth overall with 182 points. Sofia Hernandez was the top Warrior runner in 12^th place with a time of 22:26…Point Loma was fourth at the CSU San Marcos Cougar Challenge in a 10-team field. The Sea Lions had 139 team points, behind Division I leaders California Baptist (19 points) and Grand Canyon (55). Jocelyn Gibson was the top Sea Lion runner in 21^st place (22:21) with Michelle Ramos close behind in 23^rd (22:27)…Concordia ran four in San Marcos with Elizabeth Smorick clocking 23:25…Hawaii Hilo and Hawaii Pacific ran in a crowded field of 25 teams at the Charles Bowles Willamette XC Invite at Bush Park in Salem, Ore. The Vulcans finished 19^th of 25 teams and the Sharks were 21^st. Kathleen Raab was the top UHH runner in 46^th on the 5K course (18:38) while Aspen Maldonado led HPU in 122^nd (19:45). The University of Hawaii won the meet with 65 points, edging the Univ. of Portland (70).

LOOKING AHEAD: Six teams will compete this weekend, starting on Friday when Dominican and Westmont run at the San Francisco State Invitational. On Saturday, Biola and Concordia will head to Illinois to compete in the loaded national field at the Lewis Crossover in Romeoville. Biola and Vanguard will send runners to the Pomona-Pitzer Invite in Claremont. To see the complete 2026 schedule, click here.