Tigers Appear to be Front-Runners for Fourth Consecutive Conference Title

The Riverside women's cross country team has captured the past three Orange Empire Conference championships and is the favorite to win this year's title for the fourth consecutive year.

During the Southern California Regional preview meet last month, the Tigers placed fifth in the field of 24 teams and were the highest conference finisher with 135 points.  Fullerton placed 13^th overall and was the second conference team to finish while Santa Ana placed 17^th and Orange Coast was 18^th.  

Riverside sophomore Sarah Hollis finished third overall in the field of 210 runners while teammate Carissa Gomez placed 21^st overall and Samantha Chapa was 25^th overall.  

Saddleback did not have enough finishers to earn a team score during that race, but freshman Hannah Badger placed 51^st overall and the Gauchos now have enough runners to post a team score.

Riverside and Saddleback tied for lowest points during the conference championship last year, with Riverside earning the title during a tiebreaking system.  Riverside went on to place fourth at the state championship with Saddleback placing fifth.  These two teams might end up battling for the conference title again this season.  Riverside captured the Brubaker Invitational earlier this season with Fullerton placing third and Santa Ana finishing fourth.  Saddleback was the only OEC team to participate in the Mt. SAC Invitational, finishing as the fifth Southern California team in the race.

The 5-kilometer women's conference championship race will be contested on the Oso Creek Trail in Mission Viejo behind the Norman P. Murray Center on Veteran's Way starting at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 26.  The men's 4-mile race will follow at 10:00 a.m.

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