49ers Rewrite the Record Books in 2006
LBSU Completes Best Two-Year Run in School History

November 15, 2006

LONG BEACH, CA -- Long Beach State cross country exceeded their expectations in 2006 as they had a record-breaking season. The 49ers tied the 2005 squads with the best-combined finish at the Big West Championships. The women who were picked to finish third in conference placed second, tying the 1989 squad for the best women’s finish in school history. The men, who had to reload after losing their top two runners to graduation finished fourth (picked to finish fifth). The program’s performance made the 2005-2006 seasons the best two-year run in school history.

Many individual records were broken in 2006 as well. Meredith Kramon had the best two-year finish at the Big West Championships by a female in school history, after finishing fourth in 2005 and fifth in 2006. She also broke her own 6K school-record along the way with a time of 20:52 (previously 21:13.9) at the Stanford Invitational. Five other 49ers ran times fast enough to place them on the all-time top-10 list as well.

Despite being short three top runners at the NCAA West Regionals, the men and women were able to pull out 12th place finishes. Wolhan Ovalle (32nd) and Jenessa Botello (30th) ran stellar races as they just missed all-region honors.

The 49ers will lose four top-five female runners to graduation, including Botello, Kramon, Ludi Valdez, and Nicole Blalock. In 2007, the men will be without top runners Wolhan Ovalle, Jason Bruton and Jesus Santana. Despite losing a great group of athletes, LBSU’s future looks bright. Newcomers Missy Barclay, Jennifer Rodriguez, Eli Rodriguez, Mario Cobian and Samir Benouar all had several promising races this season. The 49ers will also be returning Dylan Jaedtke and Kristina Wilson, who both hold top-10 marks at LBSU. With a solid group of returnees, The Beach will look to continue their historic campaign in 2007.

BWC
-Women’s team finished second (ahead of defending champions UC Irvine) tying the 1989 squad for best women’s finish in school history
-Meredith Kramon earned all-conference honors after finishing fifth
-Men’s team placed fourth
-Wolhan Ovalle was the top-finisher for the 49ers with a time of 27:22.7

INDIVIDUALS IN THE TOP-10
Nicole Blalock (Orange), Senior
-Holds the second fastest time in school history at 21:30.4
-Was the top-collegiate finisher at the Titan Invite (5K) with a time of 18:21 (4th overall)
-Earned Big West Athlete of the Week honors (10/23)
-Finished 18th at the BWC with a time of 22:08.1

Jenessa Botello (Whittier), Senior
-Just missed all-region honors with a time of 22:18.89 (30th) at West Regionals
-Finished 13th at BWC (22:59.6)
-Ran fourth fastest time in school history when she finished 17th (21:36) at the Stanford Invite
-Ran personal-best 5K time of 18:18 at Aztec Invite

Dylan Jaedtke (Simi Valley), Sophomore
-Ranks 10th on the charts with a time of 24:50, which he accomplished at Stanford
-Finished 24th at the BWC
-Placed 61st at Regionals with a time of 31:59.12

Meredith Kramon (Larkspur), Senior
-Broke her own school record (21:13.9) with a time of 20:52 at the Stanford Invite
-Earned first Big West Athlete of the Week award of her career (9/17)
-Two-time all-conference honoree (2005 & 2006)
-Best two-year finish by a female in school history at BWC with fourth and fifth place finishes

Wolhan Ovalle (Vacaville), Senior
-Ranks third on the charts after his performance at Stanford (24:13)
-Was the top-finisher for the 49ers in each race he competed in this year
-Placed 21st at the BWC with a time of 27:22.7
-Had a strong finish at Regionals where he placed 32nd overall

Ludi Valdez (Costa Mesa), Senior
-Currently ranks third on the charts with a time of 21:34, which she accomplished at the Stanford Invite
-LBSU’s third finisher at the BWC with a time of 23:00.1, which was good enough for 14th place
-Ran personal-best 5K time of 18:25 at Aztec Invite
-Placed 54th at Regionals

Kristina Wilson (West Covina), Sophomore
-Ran a time of 22:07 at Stanford, which was fast enough to place her seventh on the charts
-Placed 22nd at the BWC with a time of 23:26.1
-Finished 78th at Regionals