49ers Finish Solid Season at Regionals
Both Programs Finish 12th; Botello and Ovalle Just Miss All-Region Honors

November 10, 2006

GRESHAM, OR – Long Beach State cross country was able to overcome several obstacles this week to complete the best two-year run in school history when both the men and women finished 12th on Saturday at the NCAA West Regional. Both programs had finished 10th at Regionals in 2005.

Jenessa Botello and Wolhan Ovalle both ran outstanding races for the 49ers, just missing all-region honors. Botello finished 30th and Ovalle placed 32nd overall. In order to earn all-region honors, individuals must finish in the top-25.

The women’s team was already heading into the meet without Nicole Blalock, one of LBSU’s top-five runners, due to suspension. On Saturday, Meredith Kramon, LBSU’s No. 1 runner, dropped out of the race. Despite losing two all-conference runners, the women finished 12th (389) out of 30 teams, with three athletes finishing in the top-80. Botello led the way as she finished 30th overall with a time of 22:18.89. Ludi Valdez followed in 54th place with a time of 22:38.54. Kristina Wilson ran a time of 23:17.99, which was good enough for 78th place.

“Jenessa ran the best race I have ever seen her run,” said third-year Distance Coach Matt Roe. “She ran completely out of her head…it was an absolutely inspired effort and I was very impressed with her performance.”

The men, who were also without one of their top-five runners due to suspension, finished 12th (334) out of 25 teams. Ovalle led the 49er pack with a time of 31:13.06, which was good enough for 32nd place. Ovalle who finished 21st at the conference championships two weekends ago was the fourth Big West finisher at the Regional meet on Saturday. Dylan Jaedtke finished 61st with a time of 31:59.12. Jesus Santana was LBSU’s third finisher with a time of 32:30.91, which was good enough for 76th place.

“Wolhan Ovalle is a very talented athlete and I knew he had it in him to run an amazing race today,” said Roe. “He ran a very tough race and just ran hard the whole way.”

Despite a rough week for the 49er program, LBSU finished the 2006 season on a positive note as they completed the best two-year run at conference and regionals in school history.

“It has been a difficult time this past week for our program,” said Roe. “I am extremely proud of the people who finished the race today. They just ran with so much passion and it was really redemptive for our program.”

MEN'S 10K FROM LBSU
1. Oregon (69), 2. Stanford (88), 3. Portland (123), 4. Washington (139), 5. Arizona (156), 12. LONG BEACH STATE (334).

INDIVIDUAL 49ERS
Overall Winner: Neftalem Araia, Stanford (30:05.88); 32. Wolhan Ovalle (31:13.06), 61. Dylan Jaedtke (31:59.12), 76. Jesus Santana (32:30.91), 82. Mario Cobian (32:41.06), 87. Eli Rodriguez (32:48.12), 116. Samir Benouar (33:50.61)

WOMEN'S 6K
1. Stanford (42), 2. UC Santa Barbara (72), 3. Arizona State (83), 4. Washington (140), 5. UCLA (170), 12. LONG BEACH STATE (389).

INDIVIDUAL 49ERS
Overall Winner: Arianna Lambie, Stanford (20:58.85); 30. Jenessa Botello (22:18.9), 54. Ludi Valdez (22:48.54), 78. Kristina Wilson (23:17.99), 119. Missy Barclay (23:49.75), 123. Jennifer Rodriguez (23:53.86), 135. Cheryl Bube (24:07.44).