SOUTH BEND, Indiana – California Cross Country returned to action for the first time in nearly a month on Friday afternoon at the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational. Cal brought a young squad to take on some of the nation's best at Burke Golf Course in South Bend.
 
Senior Garrett Corcoran led the way for the Bears as he took seventh place in a very competitive field. Corcoran finished in 24:00.7 in the men's five mile race. Corcoran stayed with the front pack for the entirety of the race crossing the splits within a second of the leader at both the one mile and 4K splits. Overall, he finished 17 seconds behind Friday's winner, but still notched his second top-10 performance in as many races after he won the USF Invitational to open his final season.
 
The men's team took 13^th place with a score of 305. Paul Zeiss was the second Bear across the line as he took 50^th place. Newcomer Ryan Peck took 71^st with a time of 25:13.6 while freshman Colin FitzGerald finished in 25:36.0 to claim 91^st. Steven Khan (25:52.9), Ben Harper (26:17.9) and Nikolaus Moore (27:36.8) rounded out the group.
 
"We're putting together a new team, and we were missing some of our scholarship runners," cross country head coach Shayla Houlihan said. "That's part of the growing pains, but we need to learn from this and get better."
 
Of the 14 runners between the two squads, seven are in their first year with the Bears including six true freshman. This was especially evident on the women's side as five true freshman made their first road trip of the season to take on three ranked squads and a number of others on the periphery of the USTFCCCA Coaches' Poll.
 
Annie Boos was the top finisher as she took 43^rd place with a time of 17:43.40 while freshman Marea Zlatunich crossed the line in 17:50.8 to take 52^nd place in the women's 5K race. Zlatunich was in 76^th place after the one mile split as she and Boos raced together. The duo made their move and were able to climb 20 places by the time they came to the next split at 4K.
 
"This was a good learning experience for our women's team," Houlihan said. "In college running, you have to get out in the front quicker and stay out there. It is really hard to move up in a race that has so many bodies in it. They'll learn from it, and get better."
 
Zlatunich fronted a pack that saw the 2^nd through sixth runners all cross the line within a 34 second span. Kenna Clawson was the next runner to hit the tape as he finished in 18:15.4. She was followed by junior Marissa Dobry (18:28.3) and freshman Jessica Nye (18:29.2). McKenna Brown rounded out the scoring with a time of 18:40.8 and Sydney Vandegrift crossed soon after in 18:49.2.

The women took 16^th place as a team as the young squad tallied 372 points.

On Saturday, 10 student-athletes headed to Sacramento on Saturday morning for the Capital Cross Challenge at Haggin Golf Course.
 
Andrew Burkhardt led the way for the men's team as he took 24^th place with a time of 25:01.6. In his return from injury, Kai Benedict posted a time of 25:56.7 in the 8k race to take 93^rd place. The lineup was rounded out by a trio of freshman on the men's side. Xavier Court finished in 26:11.6 while Xavier Court crossed the line in 26:31.3. Shane Bissell posted a time of 28:16.5.
 
The women were led by a breakout performance from sophomore Meredith Corda. Corda finished in 22:07.7 to take 35^th place in a crowded field featuring more than 250 runners. Jasmine He made her collegiate debut with a time of 23:20.0. Rebecca Croft finished just behind her with a mark of 23:30.6. Freshman Kalea Ibarra was the next Bear across the line in 25:23.7 followed by Jacqueline Chandler (28:08.0).
 
JOE PIANE INVITATIONAL RESULTS
WOMEN
Team
16. California (43-52-86-94-97-109-114)
 
Individual
43. Annie Boos, 17:43.40
53. Marea Zlatunich, 17:50.80
88. Kenna Clawson, 18:15.34
98. Marissa Dobry, 18:28.22
101. Jessica Nye, 18:29.18
115. McKenna Brown, 18:40.74
122. Sydney Vandegrift, 18:49.15
 
MEN
Team
13. California (7-48-68-86-96-107-118)
 
Individual
7. Garrett Corcoran, 24:00.7
50. Paul Zeiss, 24:55.8
71. Ryan Peck, 25:13.6
91. Colin FitzGerald, 25:36.0
102. Steven Khan, 25:52.9
119. Ben Harper, 26:17.9
137. Nikolaus Moore, 27:36.8

CAPITAL CROSS CHALLENGE RESULTS
WOMEN
Individual
35. Meredith Corda, 22:07.7
110. Jasmine He, 23:20.0
120. Rebecca Croft, 23:30.6
224. Kalea Ibarra, 25:23.7
245. Jacqueline Chandler, 28:08.0
 
MEN
Individual
24. Andrew Burkhardt, 25:01.6
93. Kai Benedict, 25:56.7
114. Xavier Court, 26:11.6
144. Moises Medrano, 26:31.3
228. Shane Bissell, 28:16.5