Mitchell, Smithers are top finishers at Pomona Invite
CLAREMONT, Calif. – Chapman University cross country runners Elisabeth Mitchell and D.J. Smithers were the team's top finishers at the Pomona-Pitzer Cross Country Invitational on Saturday in Claremont.
Mitchell, a freshman, finished the 6K 131st with a time of 27:16.2 which was five minutes off the pace set by first place finisher Marianne Hogan of San Diego State. For the second time in three meets this season, Mitchell was the top finisher for the Panthers. This was the team's first 6K of the season. Senior Kirsten Moore (27:56.6), freshman Kelly Kneis (28:00.9) and sophomore Jessie Drews (29:39.1) finished 142nd, 146th and 158th, respectively.
Cal State San Marcos won the team event with five of the top-10 finishers. UC Irvine, San Diego State, Whittier and host Pomona-Pitzer rounded the top five.
On the men's side, Smithers finished 118th with a time of 30:13.4 nearly five minutes off the pace set by Cal State San Marcos' Western Nelson. San Marcos also won the team event with an average time of 26:14.36. The Panthers' other two runners, sophomore Zac Campbell (31:20.1) and freshman Kevin Tatlock (31:20.5) finished 131st and 132nd, respectively.
Chapman's next meet is Saturday, Oct. 9 at the Vanguard Invitational at 9 a.m.
by Chris Watts
Sports Information Assistant