SAN DIEGO -- San Diego State cross Country will officially begin their 2025 season in familiar territory as the program will host the Aztec Coastal Classic this Friday along the SDSU Mission Valley River Park. The course, right next to Snapdragon stadium, will consist of a five-kilometer race featuring a handful of NCAA Division I opponents. The meet will be highlighted by all three of San Diego County’s Division I universities facing off as the Aztecs compete against the Toreros of the University of San Diego and Tritons from UC San Diego. California Baptist is also slated to compete.
Aztecs Set to Race: Presley Bennett, Vanessa Cabello, Isabella Fauria, Emilia Greenway, Sara Jones, Elliana Lomeli, Rebekah Niednagel, Ginger Oberg, Maddy Parrone, Emily Russo, Emily Van Valkenburg, Alexis Wolfinger & Samantha Wood.
Roster Preview
- The Aztecs return seven athletes from last season highlighted by their top three finishers at the 2024 NCAA West Regional meet. Vanessa Cabello (20:48.9), Samantha Wood (21:03.9) and Emily Van Valkenburg (21:26.8) will look to build off their strong finishes to the 2024 season.
- Presley Bennett, Isabella Fauria, Sara Jones and Maddy Parrone round out the returners with each having raced multiple times during the 2024 season, including helping the Aztecs win the 2024 Highlander Invitational.
- Six new faces will suit up for SDSU featuring five freshmen (Emilia Greenway, Elliana Lomeli, Ginger Oberg, Emily Russo & Alexis Wolfinger) and one transfer (Rebekah Niednagel)
- Niednagel comes to the Aztecs after three, decorated seasons, with The Master’s University. With the Mustangs Niednagel was a six time Track & Field NAIA All-American, a 2023 NAIA Cross Country All-American and helped The Master’s secure a 2024 NAIA National Cross Country Championship.
- The freshman duo of Alexis Wolfinger and Elliana Lomeli are primed to be key contributors. Wolfinger hails from West Torrance High School where she owns school records in the three-mile (Cross Country) and 3200-meter (Track & Field) races. Lomeli prepped at Buchanan High School where her teams twice won the California State Championship in Cross Country. Her teams also secured third place finishes at the Nike Cross National in both 2022 and 2024.
Looking Back at 2024
- The Aztecs finished 2024 strong as they submitted the program's best team performance at NCAA West Regionals since 2005.
- The team's final time of 1:47:08.8 at regionals was the Aztec’s fourth fastest six-kilometer team time in program history.
- Cabello and Wood posted the best individual finishes at NCAA West Regionals since 2006, with both finishing in the top 75.
- The Aztecs team victory at the 2024 Highlander Invitational was the first team win of any race length since 2016. Seven athletes who contributed to the win will be returning in 2025.