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Pepperdine Cross Country Hosts 2008 Invitational

Pepperdine cross country showed talent and teamwork at its 2008 Invitational, held Saturday, Oct. 4, at Alumni Park, successfully playing host to over 2,000 student-athletes from the collegiate and high school levels.

"In just two years our Pepperdine Cross Country Invitational has become a marquee event in the nation for showcasing our sport," says head coach Robert Radnoti, who noted that it took months of preparation and many community volunteers to accomplish this year's regional showcase.

“This was the true definition of a home meet and we really had to work at it in order to accommodate everyone here,” says Radnoti. “Some of our athletes competed, but many more were manning the start and finish lines, and did whatever they could to contribute to their sport.”

On the course, sophomore Chelsea Wishard and senior Cole Feldman once again led their respective teams to the finish line. Wishard completed the 6K with a seventh-place time of 21:39.22, while Feldman clocked a personal record and 17th-place mark of 26:08.70 in the 8K.

Wishard has been Pepperdine’s top finisher at all five meets this season. She was closely followed to the finish by freshman Lauren Lodge, who placed eighth at 21:42.32, and senior Brieanna Carroll, who came in 10th at 21:54.32.

Feldman has led the Waves twice now this season, starting with the Big Wave Invitational in Hawai'i two weeks ago. Sophomore Seth Allison was Pepperdine’s second finisher Saturday with a 21st-place mark of 26:23.45 and freshman Derek Pesta was its third, recording a 24th-place showing of 26:46.55.

As a team, the women finished second with 54 points to USC’s 22 points, and Drake was a close third with 55 points. UC Irvine and Drake tied for the men’s team title with 45 points and Pepperdine was fifth with 110 points.

The Trojan’s Zsofia Erdelyi was the top individual on the women’s side with a mark of 20:33.22, beating the rest of the field by more than 13 seconds. Fresno State’s Erick Garcia won the 8K in 24:45.19 after passing Stephen Hill of Christian Brothers during the final lap.

The Waves of today and yesterday will gather at Alumni Park next Saturday, Oct. 11, at 9 a.m. for the Kampmann Klassic, and in two weeks, head north for a big meet at Santa Clara.

Click here for the full cross-country schedule and race results.