Aztecs Win Highlander Invitational

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – San Diego State was victorious in their final meet of the regular season winning the team title at the Highlander Invitational on Saturday morning. The team had four of the top ten finishers and finished with 41 points overall and a program best team time of 1:45:27.9.

Emily Van Valkenburg led the Scarlet and Black across the finish line with a third place finish. Her time of 20:44.6 is the second fastest on the UCR Ag Ops Course in SDSU history and is the fourth best of any 6K course (with replacement). She has finished as one of the top three Aztec finishers in every race she has competed in.

Just seven seconds behind her was Vanessa Cabello crossing the line fifth overall with a personal best time of 20:51.7. The mark ranks fifth best by an Aztec on the UCR Ag Ops Course. Thanks to a surge in the middle third of the race, Maddie Heller jumped 16 spots and crossed the line eighth overall with a PR of 21:04.1.

Samantha Wood was the fourth Aztec across the line finishing tenth overall at 21:08.0. The final SDSU point scorer was Eva Rethmeier who crossed the line 25th overall at 21:39.5.

Lauren Harper finished 28th with a time of 21:45.7. Isabella Fauria (22:01.6), Sara Jones (22:14.2), Presley Bennett (22:19.7) and Melanie Falkowski (22:37.7) all recorded personal bests in the race. Maddy Parrone (22:45.5) and Tatum Zinkin (23:28.4) rounded out the Aztec roster in the meet.

The team victory is the first for San Diego State in a 6K race in program history and the first team win of any race length since the 2016 season.

Next up for the Aztecs is the Mountain West Championships on Friday, November 1. The 6K conference meet will be in Colorado Springs this year at the Eisenhower Golf Course.

Highlander Invitational Team Results (top three)
1. San Diego State – 41 points
2. UC San Diego – 59 points
3. Arizona – 122 points

Highlander Invitational Individual Results (top three + SDSU)
1. Sylvana Northrop – 20:27.7 (UC San Diego)
2. Hannah Fredericks – 20:34.3 (The Master’s)
3. Emily Van Valkenburg - 20:44.6
5. Vanessa Cabello - 20:51.7 (PR)
8. Maddie Heller - 21:04.1 (PR)
10. Samantha Wood - 21:08.0
25. Eva Rethmeier - 21:39.5
28. Lauren Harper - 21:45.7
38. Isabella Fauria - 22:01.6 (PR)
46. Sara Jones - 22:14.2 (PR)
51. Presley Bennett - 22:19.7 (PR)
70. Melanie Falkowski - 22:37.7 (first collegiate 6K)
77. Maddy Parrone - 22:45.5
135. Tatum Zinkin - 23:28.7 (PR)