Tigers Cross Country Season In Review

Stockton, Calif. – For the second time in as many years the Pacific Cross Country team rewrote the school's record book. The Tigers shattered the team record, and set numerous individual highs throughout the memorable season.

The 2011 squad set the all-time Pacific mark with a team time of 2:01.22 at the Big West Championships on October 29.  The new time shaved 51 seconds off the previous team-mark of 2:02.13 at the conference championships recorded in 2005. 

A primary reason for the Tigers success was due to newcomer Katie Castro. The student-athlete from Los Gatos, Calif. set the freshman record for fastest times in a 5K and 6K events. Her time of 19:04.80 at the 5K Bronco Invitational shattered the previous freshman record by 21 seconds. Then, at the NCAA Regional Championships in Stanford, Calif. the rookie standout beat her own freshman record she set at the Big West Championships with a time of 23:04.00. Her time at the NCAA Regionals was good for third best in Pacific's history.

In her second collegiate season, Melissa Hopper battled an injury and sickness throughout the season, but still helped lead the Tigers in 2011. The San Jose, Calif. native's time of 23:47.40 was her fastest of the season, which helped set the school record at the Big West Championships. 

Freshman Rebecca Tuttle led the Tiger charge towards the historical campaign setting her personal record at the conference championships with a mark of 24:30.50. The time was good for the 12th best in Tigers history. 

In her final season as a Tiger senior Jazmin Quiroz was a major contributor with an individual time of 24:34.70 on that remarkable day in October. Jazmin will be sorely missed after her four years of competition, as she will be moving on from the Tiger Cross Country family. 

In 2011, sophomore Cassi Rush broke through as a major force for the Tiger squad. The Gilbert, Ariz. native, set her season and personal best at the Big West Championships with a time of 24:34.70. The finish broke her previous record by over a minute.

Redshirt junior Monica Torres, and freshmen Micaela Todd and Julia Lane all set personal records in 2011. Torres and Todd set personal bests at the Doc Adams Invite with times of 25:33.90 and 26:33.90, respectively. Lane only ran two races this season, but set a personal best time of 28:36.52 at the Humboldt Invite. 

In addition to their excellence on the course, the Tiger runners excelled in the classroom earning the prestigious NCAA Public Recognition Award. The recognition came due to the team having an APR (Academic Progress Rate) in the top 10 percent of all the squads in Women's Cross Country.

The Tigers will look to continue their altering of the record book in 2012, but first take on five NCAA sanctioned track meets in the spring.