Pepperdine Graphic

Pepperdine Cross Country Shines at Highlander Invitational with Personal Bests

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Pepperdine Men's Cross Country huddle together to prepare for their 8k race at the Highlander Invitational on Oct. 19, held at University of California, Riverside's Ag Ops Course. Photos courtesy of Kyle Cajero
Pepperdine Men's Cross Country huddle together to prepare for their 8k race at the Highlander Invitational on Oct. 19, held at University of California, Riverside's Ag Ops Course. Photos courtesy of Kyle Cajero

Pepperdine Cross Country officially wrapped up their season — for only two weeks, and then it’s time for postseason racing.

The Waves finished their final race Oct. 19 at the Highlander Invitational held by University of California, Riverside. Putting a stamp on the regular season, Pepperdine is looking to storm into the postseason recording 13 new personal-best times across both the Men’s and Women’s Cross Country teams.

In a race that housed 20 teams in the men’s 8k race and 24 teams in the women’s 6k race, Pepperdine’s batch of personal bests placed both squads in the top 10.

Coming in at seventh, the men’s team had five runners finish 100th or better in a competition that held 253 runners. The last member of the team crossed the line at 214th, good for a team score of 163, with a team total time of 2:06:06 and a runner time average of 25:13, according to TFRRS.

The University of Arizona finished first with a score of 65.

Freshman runner Elijah Gentry runs with a pact of Highlander Invitational racers Oct. 19, at UC Riverside's Ag Ops Course. Gentry recorded a personal best for the second-straight race.
Freshman runner Elijah Gentry runs with a pact of Highlander Invitational racers Oct. 19, at UC Riverside's Ag Ops Course. Gentry recorded a personal best for the second-straight race.

The women’s team saw a 10th place finish with three Waves finishing 100th or better out of 256 runners. The team had an overall score of 297, a team total time of 1:53:11 and a runner average time of 22:38, according to TFRRS.

Arizona placed third on this side of the race, giving way to San Diego State University to siege first with a score of 41.

Like deja vu, sophomore runners Gordy Nilsen and Lizzy Crawford led the Waves in their respective races. Crawford’s 6k season-best time of 21:19:1 made this the ninth consecutive race she has led the team, dating back to her freshman campaign.

Sophomore runner Lizzy Crawford leading the Waves in a warm-up prior to the women's 6k race Oct. 19, at UC Riverside's Ag Ops Course. Crawford is climbing the charts in Pepperdine history, with her ninth consecutive race leading the team being the third-longest streak in school history.
Sophomore runner Lizzy Crawford leading the Waves in a warm-up prior to the women's 6k race Oct. 19, at UC Riverside's Ag Ops Course. Crawford is climbing the charts in Pepperdine history, with her ninth consecutive race leading the team being the third-longest streak in school history.

Five other women recorded personal bests at this invitational, senior runner Eden Mittelsdorf, junior runner Caroline Graham and freshmen runners Riley Burgess and Grace Simpson found success on the flat UC Riverside Ag Ops Course.

For the men’s team, sophomore runner Elijah Gentry got his second-straight personal best for a 31st place finish and a time of 25:00:3. Junior runner Patrick Thomas and sophomore runners Dominic Silhol and Rowan Nilsen finished in 25 minutes.

The Waves have two weeks to prep before the big fish, the WCC Championships on Nov. 2, but will have one last race following these championships at the NCAA Regionals on Nov. 15.

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Email Justin Rodriguez: justin.rodriguez@pepperdine.edu