La Verne XC Dominates Highlander Open, Shatter Multiple Program Records

RIVERSIDE, CA — The University of La Verne's cross country teams dominated the field at the Highlander Invitational on Saturday, with both teams placing in the top ten and shattering multiple program and personal records in the process.

The men's team ran its best performance of the season placing fourth out of the 14 teams competing in the 8K.

Senior Fernando Cortez Jr. led the pack with a ninth place finish and his fastest race of the season, notching a top-16 all-time program record and tying his personal record. He showed grit climbing from 16th place to finish in ninth in the second half of the race.

Junior Dillon Burhop was the next Leopard to come in, also showing toughness by climbing the ranks from 51st to 28th place in the final four kilometers. Burhop improved 23 seconds to claim his fastest time in the 8K.

Senior Joseph Chavarria followed shortly behind with a 33rd place finish, maintaining a strong pace throughout the course.

Senior Isaac Stockton and junior Diego Herrera were the last two scorers for the Leopards, both recording season best times. Senior Noah Ramos and freshman Jamari Eisenberg followed shortly behind, with Eisenberg recording an 18 second personal record.

Junior Vincent Price made a massive improvement, cutting his fastest time this season by 58 seconds.

Men's 8K Scores
Fernando Cortez Jr. (25:33.6, 9th, 16th all-time 8K)
Dillon Burhop (26:19.8, 28th)
Joseph Chavarria (26:28.4, 33rd)
Isaac Stockton (26:44.4, 45th)
Diego Herrera (26:47.2, 50th)

The women's team also ran its best performance of the season with an eighth place finish out of the 12 teams competing in the 6K.

Freshmen Avery Bravo and Angelica Espinoza continued to raise the bar when they both shattered program records with their performances. Bravo recorded a top-13 all-time performance with a 25 second improvement from her last record. Espinoza notched herself in the books with a top-15 all-time race, pushing herself to improve by 29 seconds.

Senior Ashley Kodama continued the momentum with a season-best time, improving by 57 seconds and climbing the ranks from 78th place to finish in 69th.

Seniors CC Flaherty and Kaliah Ramirez followed shorty behind to round out the scorers for the Leopards, as both recorded personal records.

Junior Mariah Huizar had a breakout performance, cutting her season best time by just over a minute.

Women's 6K Scores
Avery Bravo (23:30.6, 30th, 13th all-time 6K)
Angelica Espinoza (23:41.3, 37th, 15th all-time 6K)
Ashley Kodama (24:47.4, 69th)
CC Flaherty (25:19.2, 80th)
Kaliah Ramirez (25:50.5, 90th)

The Leopards will compete next at the SCIAC Championships at the Pomona College Course in Claremont, CA, on Friday, October 30.

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Players Mentioned

Mariah Huizar: Sophomore

Kaliah Ramirez: 5' 3"; Senior

Avery Bravo: 5' 2"; Freshman

Angelica Espinoza: 5' 6"; Freshman

CC Flaherty: 5' 7"; Senior

Ashley Kodama: Junior

Joseph Chavarria: 5' 5"; Senior

Fernando Cortez Jr.: Senior

Diego Herrera: 5' 9"; Junior

Noah Ramos: Graduate Student

Isaac Stockton: 5' 7"; Senior

Jamari Eisenberg: 5' 11"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Mariah Huizar
: Sophomore

Kaliah Ramirez
: 5' 3"; Senior

Avery Bravo
: 5' 2"; Freshman

Angelica Espinoza
: 5' 6"; Freshman

CC Flaherty
: 5' 7"; Senior

Ashley Kodama
: Junior

Joseph Chavarria
: 5' 5"; Senior

Fernando Cortez Jr.
: Senior

Diego Herrera
: 5' 9"; Junior

Noah Ramos
: Graduate Student

Isaac Stockton
: 5' 7"; Senior

Jamari Eisenberg
: 5' 11"; Freshman