Cal Poly senior Swarnjit Boyal and Long Beach State junior Mikayla Florez were individual medalists at season-opening meets, capturing Big West Cross Country Athlete of the Week accolades.
Boyal Wins UCSB Lagoon Open
Cal Poly senior Swarnjit Boyal (Yuba City, Calif./River Valley HS) secured his third career Big West Men’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week award after finishing first at the season-opening UCSB Lagoon Open.
Boyal ran the 8K course in 25:06.00, 15.8 seconds better than runner-up and Mustang teammate Justin Robison (25:21.80).
The runner-up at last year’s Big West Championships, Boyal led the Mustangs to a 17-44 win in the team scoring dual.
Others nominated: Sam Pimentel (Cal State Fullerton); Jordy Ceja (UC Davis); Hector Garcia (UC Irvine); Arman Irani (UC Riverside)
Florez Becomes First Long Beach State Champion Since 2010
Long Beach State junior Mikayla Florez (Riverbank, Calif./Riverbank HS) captured first place at the season-opening Pepperdine Invitational to garner Big West Women’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week accolades.
Florez covered the 4K course in a time of 14:41.96 as the Beach racked up five dual meet wins against USC, Pepperdine, UC Irvine, CSUN and CSU Bakersfield. A total of 44 runners competed in the event.
She became the first women’s runner from LBSU to win a meet since Rosa Del Toro claimed the Aztec Invitational title in 2010.
Others nominated: Miranda Daschian (Cal Poly); Wendi Leos (Cal State Fullerton); Sarah Anderson (UC Davis); Faith Makau (UC Riverside); Danielle Girard (Hawai‘i)