Freshman Olivia Ruiz became just the third Pasadena City College women's cross country runner in the last 10 years to reach All-South Coast Conference First Team after racing to a fifth place individual finish at the SCC Championships held Nov. 1 at Irvine Regional Park. The top seven places make up the elite conference first squad.
Ruiz covered the 5-kilometer course in a time of 22 minutes, 22.9 seconds. The Lancers also had two other runners reach the top 20 in sophomore Julia Reyes, who was 17th at 23:57.9, and freshman Meline Minasian in 20th at 24:30.9. PCC placed fourth as a team (six scoring teams), the school's highest finish since 2013 (also fourth).
Other PCC harriers in the field of 52 racers were freshmen scorers Nathalia Caramaschi (38th, 28:55.9) and Wafa Kasim (39th, 28:57.7) and sophomore Raylin Galvan in 48th (32:07.5). Showing the vast improvement of the 2019 Lancers was that Galvan previously was the 2017 Lancers' top conference finisher (33rd that season).
Los Angeles Harbor won its third straight SCC title, edging out Mt. San Antonio in total points, 35-36. Harbor runner Marai Atanacio captured the individual SCC title with a 21:24.3 time.
Ruiz (from San Marino High) joined Franceska Millanponce (third, 2016) and Tracee van der Wyk (third, 2009 and 2010) as the only All-SCC First Team Pasadena racers in the past decade.
The Lancers, directed by head coach Innocent Egbunike and assistant coaches Pat Williams and Tony Rivera, will take place in the Southern California Championships on Friday, Nov. 8 at Mission Bay Park in San Diego.
Complete SCC Championship Team Placings Below:
| PL | Team | Total Time | Avg. Time | Score | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LA Harbor | 1:53:16 | 22:39 | 35 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 21 | 23 | 30 |
| 2 | Mt. SAC | 1:52:02 | 22:24 | 36 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 14 |
| 3 | Long Beach | 2:02:56 | 24:35 | 96 | 11 | 15 | 18 | 25 | 27 | 29 | 34 |
| 4 | Pasadena | 2:08:45 | 25:45 | 106 | 5 | 17 | 19 | 32 | 33 | 38 | |
| 5 | Cerritos | 2:10:17 | 26:03 | 121 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 26 | 35 | 36 | 39 |
| 6 | El Camino | 2:15:40 | 27:08 | 131 | 13 | 22 | 28 | 31 | 37 |