Harriers run in State Preview in Freno

The VC men's and women's cross country teams ran at the Crush Invitational Saturday at Fresno's Woodward Park, the site of the 3C2A State Championships later this season. The Pirate men ran 17th as a team, led by Henry Fulk in 58th place overall while the VC women were led by Brianna Richards who finished eighth overall.

Richards (Oxnard) ran the 5k course in 19:03 to finish in the Top-10, placing fourth among community college runners. Her time was the fastest mark for a freshman in the state preview meet in VC history. Natalie Kreil (Buena) (137th, 26:24) was the only other woman competing for Ventura and the Pirates did not have a team score. There were 155 runners in the women's race.

Fulk (Foothill Tech) led the Pirate men on the 4-mile course, running 22:13 to earn 53 team points. He ran the fourth-fastest time in VC history in the state preview meet.

Other Ventura men included Marcelo Mendoza (Rio Mesa)(89th, 22:53, 72 points), Aiden Plew (98th, 23:09, 79 points), Nathan Lopez (Ventura)(123rd, 23:37, 98 points), Julian Pachon (Oxnard)(126th, 23:40, 101 points), Carmelo Betanzos (Oxnard)(156th, 24:28, 119 points) and Julian Arenas (Rio Mesa)(171st, 25:02, 125 points). A total of 253 runners competed in the men's race.

The Pirates next host the Western State Conference Preview Meet on Friday Sept. 12 at Arroyo Verde Park. The women's race will begin at 10:00 am with the men's race following at approximately 11:00 am.