Porterville opens 2024 season at Crush Invitational

FRESNO – The Porterville College women's and men's cross country teams got the 2024 season started at one of the largest meets of the year, the Crush Invitational at Woodward Park in Fresno.

The race, hosted by Clovis Community College, also served as the state preview meet as Woodward Park will once again serve as host of the 3C2A State Championships in November.

The PC women totaled 375 points to finish in 14^th place out of a 15-team field at the Crush Invitational. Porterville was led by freshman Lizbeth Ramirez, who took 70^th place overall with her time of 22:52.6 on the 5,000-meter course.

Other results for the PC women:
Liliana Hidalgo, 102^nd, 24:47.0
Itzel Ferrer, 111^th, 25:25.2
Alondra Mora, 123^rd, 27:30.0
Haley Castillo, 124^th, 27:43.6
Melissa Ayon, 125^th, 27:43.7

San Diego Mesa College took the women's team title with 56 points while Clovis' Rhiannon Walker was the individual winner with a time of 18:39.9.

The Porterville men's squad finished in 19^th place out of a big 19-team field with a score of 559 points.

The Pirates were led by David Parra with his 153^rd-place showing. He cleared the four-mile course with a time of 26:46.0. Right behind him was Albert Vidales in 155^th at 26:57.6.

Other results for the PC men:
Vanely Aguilar, 177^th, 30:54.6
Emilio Leon, 178^th, 31:00.8
Aeneas Ambriz, 181^st, 32:00.3

San Diego Mesa also won the men's team title, scoring 32 points and Jacob Perez from Bakersfield College was the men's winner with a time of 20:46.8.

UP next for the Pirates is the Lobo Invitational on Sept. 13 in Monterey.