RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Arizona Cross Country wrapped up the UC Riverside Invitational on Saturday morning with the men's team finishing third overall and the women's team placing fifth. Iker Sanchez Lopez highlighted the meet for the Wildcats, finishing second overall and first among collegiate athletes in the men's 8k. That is the highest individual finish for the team so far this season.
 
"The women did an amazing job today led by Sailor Hutton, our captain, and followed by Alisa Lyesina and Sorcha Shiu making her debut," said Head Coach Bernard Lagat. "We finished fifth teamwise, but we know we are going to improve as we continue on with the season. On the men's side, we did a great job as well, finishing third overall. Iker Sanchez Lopez winning was really a good finish and Ian Sanchez Lopez did a good job as well. Overall, all the nine men that competed today did an amazing job and we're excited for the Dave Murray Invitational at home in a couple of weeks."

Sailor Hutton led the way for the Arizona Women for the second straight week. In her first 6k of the season, Hutton finished 13th overall with a time of 20:39.5. She was followed by Alisa Lyesina, who clocked a time of 21:01.0 and placed 17th. Freshman Sorcha Shiu was the team's third-place finisher, running a time of 21:03.6 to finish 21st in her collegiate debut. Johnnie Mitchell placed 30th overall and fourth for the team with a time of 21:16.2. Sage Patzer ended as the Wildcats fifth runner.
 
Iker Sanchez Lopez came through with a big-time performance for the Arizona Men in the 8k. Sanchez Lopez finished second overall and first among collegiate runners with a massive PR time of 23:43.5, making the jump from 11th place at the 5.5k split to second place at the finish. He was followed by his twin brother, Ian Sanchez Lopez, who placed 11th overall with a time of 24:00.5 and jumped three spots during the last 0.5k. Cooper Quigley (24:31.9) and Noah Jodon (24:32.5) were the team's third- and fourth-place runners. Freshman Michael Urbanski rounded out the team's top-five finishers and scorers.
 
The Arizona Women finished fifth overall with a team score of 166, led by their two seniors Hutton and Lyesina. The Arizona Men placed third overall with a team score of 127. The Sanchez brothers' top-finishes helped the team jump two overall places in the last 0.5k.
 
UP NEXT
The Wildcats will be back in action for their lone home meet of the season, the Dave Murray Invitational, on September 29. The meet will take place at the Randolph Golf Course in Tucson.
 
ARIZONA WOMEN'S RESULTS
13. Sailor Hutton – 20:39.5
17. Alisa Lyesina – 21:01.0
21. Sorcha Shiu – 21:03.6
30. Johnnie Mitchell – 21:16.2
112. Sage Patzer – 22:37.7
 
ARIZONA MEN'S RESULTS
2. Iker Sanchez Lopez – 23:43.5 PR
11. Ian Sanchez Lopez – 24:00.5
41. Cooper Quigley – 24:31.9
44. Noah Jodon – 24:32.5
50. Michael Urbanski – 24:35.3
115. Brennan Foody – 25:19.8
171. Andrew Gibby – 26:00.7
179. Parker Lehmann – 26:07.6
209. Noah Ray – 27:18.6
 
WOMEN'S TEAM SCORES
1. Utah Valley – 20
2. Long Beach State – 103
3. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps – 117
4. UC Irvine – 119
5. Arizona – 166
6. Southern Utah – 203
7. Azusa Pacific – 209
8. CUI – 224
9. Grand Canyon – 228
10. Cal Poly Pomona – 241
11. UC Santa Cruz – 297
12. Utah Tech – 344
13. Chapman – 350
14. Pepperdine – 381
15. CSUN – 395
16. Fresno State – 395
17. Fresno Pacific – 429
18. UC Riverside – 449
 
MEN'S TEAM SCORES
1. Southern Utah – 41
2. Utah Valley – 104
3. Arizona – 127
4. Azusa Pacific – 142
5. Cal Poly Pomona – 153
6. Pomona-Pitzer – 165
7. UC Irvine – 200
8. Performance Elite RC – 210
9. Long Beach State – 278
10. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps – 282
11. Mt. SAC – 283
12. Fresno Pacific – 366
13. Pepperdine – 368
14. Grand Canyon – 389
15. UC Santa Barbara – 427
16. San Marcos – 430
17. UC Santa Cruz – 441
18. CUI – 478
19. La Verne – 501
20. Utah Tech – 520
21. CSUN – 528
22. Paradise Valley - 560
 
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