For the first time in recent memory, a Pirate headed the field at the season-opening Ventura Invitational cross country meet. VC sophomore Jordyn Vassaur won the women's 5k race with a time of 21:47, besting the second place runner by over 30 seconds on the challenging Arroyo Verde Park course. The Pirate men placed third of six participating teams in the meet.
Vassaur, who scored a massive personal record by over two minutes, separated herself from the field after the first mile and toured the difficult 3.1 miles in a lifetime best 21.47.67.
A last minute medical decision to sit one of the Pirate women resulted in only four team members participating, and Ventura was unable to post a team score. However, the other \three Pirate runners all performed well as Shannon McDermott (8th overall, 25:04.71), Amanda Wendt (9th, 25:08.87), and Dhanlay Morales (15th, 26:29.95) rounded out the Ventura finishers.
Santiago Canyon, Moorpark and Santa Monica were the three teams scoring on a surprisingly cool day on the hill.
Sam Boyle lead the Pirate men as he placed eighth overall on the four-mile course in a team-best time of 24:13.48. Christian Gil (16th, 25:20.52), Francisco Erazo (18th, 25.31.50), David Torres (25th, 26:14.63), Frank Chavez (28th, 26:45.35), Ronaldo Flores (32nd, 27:08.05) and Jose Tamayo (33rd, 27:21.38) completed the Pirate finishers.
West Los Angeles took the team title finishing in first through fifth places, followed by Santa Monica College and the Pirates, only a 37-second average behind the Corsairs.
"This was a good early test for us," commented head coach Tony Veney. "We needed to be 1:30 minutes from No. 1 to No. 5 for the men and we were 2:35 today, so the goals for the conference championship meet are clear.
"Vassaur ran a superb race taking command after the mile and was never head as she won by just over 30 seconds," said Veney.
The Pirate harriers get two weeks to train as they prepare for their next outing at the Southern California Preview hosted by Cuyamaca College in San Diego.