Tigers Travel To Oakland For Mill XC Invite

Stockton, Calif. - The Pacific Cross Country team continues its 2011 season as the ladies travel to Oakland, Calif. for the Mill XC Invite on Saturday, September 17.

The race is a 6K event, featuring one steep hill that will test the girl's endurance.  Head coach Josh Jones expects his squad to be prepared for the challenging uphill based on their conditioning during the week and the team's past success on inclines. Jones said, "the way the team has trained, they should be good on the inclines. In our past two meets on the hill sections we have passed people, so I am hoping we continue that trend."

The Tigers look to build on last week's performance at the Humboldt Invite where freshman Katie Castro individually placed 21st with a time of 23:21, and led the Tigers to a fourth place team finish. She now sits just ten seconds back of the all-time Pacific freshman record set by Melissa Hopper last season. Jones hopes for another strong race from his freshman saying, "she is a competitor. Last week at the first mile, when she came through fast at the Humboldt Invite I told her she would have to work hard the rest of the race to keep pace, but it was not a problem and she finished strong."

Jones is excited about his team's first two races saying, "we are running good with tired legs from practice." Pacific hopes as the season progresses the conditioning and practicing will payoff ultimately at the Big West Championships in late October.

Up next for the Tigers is the Stanford Invitational in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, September 24.