Sept. 3, 2011

SAN FRANCISCO - Freshman Kelsey Santisteban, running in her first race as a Golden Bear, set a course record en route to winning the women's 5000-meter race at the USF Invitational Saturday at Golden Gate Park. The Cal women also claimed the team title, while the Bear men placed second.

Santisteban, out of nearby Castro Valley, became the third consecutive Cal woman to win the USF Invite, following Keena Kohl in 2009 and Chelsea Reilly last year. This time, Reilly recorded the same 17:17 time as Santisteban, but was just a nose behind her at the finish for second place. Kohl was sixth for the Bears.

In addition, Elisa Karhu took fourth and Taylor Bryson eighth to give Cal five runners in the top 10. Laura O'Neill (16th) and Laurynne Chetelat (24) rounded out the Bears at the event.

As a team, Cal had 21 points to second-place Stanford's 41. USF was third with 71 points.

For the men, Cody Schmidt took runner-up honors behind winner Brendan Gregg of Stanford. Gregg was timed in 24:23 over 8000 meters, with Schmidt crossing the line 10 seconds back. Matt Miller finished fourth, followed by Chris Walden in fifth, Simon Schmidt in 11th, J.P. Slater 12th and Dylan Isaacson 38th.

Stanford also claimed the men's team race with 27 points, edging out the Bears, who were second with 32 points. USF was third with 69.

Cal returns to action next Saturday at the Sac State Jamboree in Sacramento.

USF Invitational
Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, Calif.

Men's Results
Team Results: 1. Stanford 27; 2. California 32; 3. San Francisco 69; 4. Academy of Art 142; 5. Saint Mary's 151; 6. Santa Clara 156; 7. UC Santa Cruz 214; 8. UC Merced 235; 9. Cal State Monterey Bay 241; 10. Delta College 261.

Individual Winner: Brendan Gregg (Stanford) 24:23. Cal Finishers: 2. Cody Schmidt 24:33; 4. Matt Miller 24:36; 5. Chris Walden 24:38; 11. Simon Schmidt 24:58; 12. J.P. Slater 25:02; 38. Dylan Isaacson 26:49.

Women's Results
Team Results: 1. Cal 21; 2. Stanford 41; 3. San Francisco 71; 4. Saint Mary's 122; 5. Santa Clara 139; 6. Cal State Monterey Bay 183; 7. UC Santa Cruz 198; 8. Academy of Art 242; 9. UC Merced 249.

Cal Finishers: 1. Kelsey Santisteban 17:17*; 2. Chelsea Reilly 17:17; 4. Elisa Karhu 17:23; 6. Keena Kohl 17:57; 8. Taylor Bryson 18:19; 16. Laura O'Neill 18:51; 24. Laurynne Chetelat 19:17.

*course record

Complete Results