SAN BERNARDINO, CA — The University of La Verne Cross Country teams kicked off their 2025 season with a strong showing at the Coyote Challenge, competing against a mix of NCAA Division II, Division III, and community college teams.
Women's 5K – 5th Place
The Leopard women placed 5th overall in a competitive field, led by junior Ryleigh LaRue, who finished 48th with a time of 21:02. Freshman Jocelyn Cruz impressed in her debut with a 53rd-place finish at 21:17.
Sophomore Chloe Chong turned heads with a massive 1:58 personal best, crossing the line in 63rd (21:59). Freshman Ximena Alvarado wasn't far behind, notching a 1:53 PR and finishing 69th at 22:33. Rounding out the top five was Daisy Sanchez, placing 72nd in 23:01.
Coach's Highlight: "I'm super proud of Chloe as she was extremely consistent with her summer training and now she is reaping the benefits of all that hard work."
Men's 8K – 5th Place
The men's team also secured a 5th-place finish, led by Finn McClure.
McClure ended with a standout performance, finishing 7th overall and earning a medal with a 15-second PR (25:22). Junior transfer Joseph Chavarria, in his 8K debut, impressed with a 17th-place finish at 26:14.
Thomas Taniguchi (26:24, 23rd) and Isaac Stockton (26:46, 33rd) followed closely, while freshman Eamon Wright made an excellent debut at 39th (26:57). Senior Diego Herrera picked up a 6-second PR (27:24), and Logan Ciszek made a solid return after a spring layoff, clocking 27:26.
Coach's Highlight: "Finn looks to be poised to have a significant breakthrough this XC season. His consistency in training is commendable."
Next Up
The Leopards look to build on this momentum as they continue their 2025 campaign, with several athletes already posting personal bests and showing early-season promise. They return to action on September 27 at the UC Riverside Invitational.
