49ers Aim for Best Two-Year Run in School History
LBSU Heads to Regionals; Kramon Looking for First NCAA Berth

November 8, 2006

LONG BEACH, CA -- Long Beach State cross country will head to the NCAA West Regional in Gresham, Oregon on Saturday, aiming for a second-consecutive top-10 finish. The women's 6K race is set to take place at 11 a.m. with the men's 10K race to follow at 12:15 p.m. at Blue Lake Park.

The 49ers are coming off stellar performances at the conference meet on November 4, where the women finished second with a school-record 72 points, and the men finished fourth, only four points off from third place.

This weekend The Beach is looking to produce the best two-year run in school history. Last year the 49ers had the second-best combined finish at the West Regional in Palo Alto, when both programs finished 10th. Meredith Kramon led the women as she finished 27th (21:13.9), just missing the school's first NCAA bid. Wolhan Ovalle had a strong race for the men as he finished 53rd overall (31:31.1).

"Our goal is always to run well at the Regional meet and we are in a good position to do that this year," said third-year Distance Coach Matt Roe. "The team is very focused on what they can control and it is in their power to have the best two-year run in school-history this weekend."

The women, who are ranked No. 9 in the West Region, are looking for a strong finish with four athletes who hold top-10 6K times at LBSU. Kramon, a two-time all-conference honoree, holds the school-record with a time of 20:52. With all of the improvements she has made this year, Kramon has an outstanding chance to qualify for a national berth on Saturday. Ludi Valdez ranks third (21:34) and Jenessa Botello (21:36) ranks fourth on the charts. Kristina Wilson holds the seventh-fastest time in school-history at 22:07.

"Meredith has been running great all year," said Roe. "She is in the best shape now and we believe she will have an outstanding race on Saturday."

The men's program has had to reload this year after losing two All-Big West performers to graduation, but is looking strong heading into this weekend. Ovalle, who holds the third-fastest 8K time in school-history at 24:13, is expected to lead the 49er pack. Dylan Jaedtke, who finished 72nd at Regionals last year, ranks 10th on the 49er charts.

Two of LBSU's top-five runners, including Nicole Blalock a two-time All-Big West honoree and Jason Bruton, will not be competing this weekend due to a violation of team policies.

"We feel really good about the people that will be representing us this weekend," said Roe. "They will be representing our program with honor and distinction and I believe we will have a great outcome."