The Ventura College men's and women's cross country team opened the 2016 season traveling across town for the Oxnard College Invitational. The women finished 10th as a team and were lead by freshman, Marissa Gonzales who ran a personal best for 5k. The Pirate men also finished in 10th place in the meet, led by Ronaldo Flores.
Gonzales covered the flat course on the Oxnard College campus in a time of 19:57 to finish 16th out 82 participants, scoring a team best 12 points. Following Marissa into the finish chute were Fabiola Gomez-Flores (55th, 22:43, 48), Kenna Perez (56th, 22:47, 49), Tati Morales (65th, 24:04, 55), Amanda Wendt (67th, 24:06, 57), Cecilia Garcia (80th, 28.39, 67), and Julia Toscano (81st, 29.38, 68).
The men's team was lead by sophomore Flroes, who placed 28th overall out of 99 runners. He crossed the finish line of the 4-mile course in 22:37. Jose Tamayo (48th, 23:21, 44), David Torres (54th, 23:29, 48), Frank Chavez (70th, 24:07, 61), and Francisco Erazo (82nd, 25:06, 68) rounded out the five-man squad.
"The first meet of the season always provides a yard stick of our summer progress and let's us know how much work is left to be done if we hope to make some noise in October," commented head coach Tony Veney.
"Aside from having four men who did not compete, the women had two runners who could have made a difference in the final tally."
The Pirates get back to business Friday Sept. 2, hosting the 21st renewal of the Ventura Invitational at Arroyo Verde Park. The women's 5k runs at 3:30pm while the men's 4-mile race is schedule for 4:15pm.