FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The UC Santa Barbara Women's and Men's Cross Country teams competed in their third meet of the season and their first out-of-state meet of the year. During the women's 5K and men's 8K, the Gauchos took part in running against numerous schools from across the country.

As far as the women go, junior Ava Maier led Santa Barbara with a time of 18:01.7, achieving a speedy 5:47 per mile pace during the race and placing 65th overall. Just seconds behind, the subsequent three athletes to cross the finish line consisted of freshman Jana Barron, senior Sophia Guttierez, and freshman Lindsey Reed, timing in at less than four seconds apart from one another and placing side-by-side with times of 18:08.1, 18:09.7, and 18:11.7, respectively. Leah Mendibles, Lexi Darley, and Ryann Strawn were the next Gauchos to finish with times of 18:23.5, 18:30.0, and 18:33.0, rounding out the athletes contributing to an 8th place finish among 27 different schools. 

"The race was really good for the girls," said Saxena. The team ran together and I knew that if they did, we would be in the top 10."

In the men's 8K, sophomore Parker Simmons came out on top once again, capturing the top placement of any Gaucho during the weekend at 41st overall and a time of 24:58.4, pacing just above 5 minute mile pace. Freshman Parker Stickney and senior Augustus Marshall also achieved individual placements in the top 100, placing 76th with a time of 25:32.5 and 95th with a time of 25:44.1, in order. The men accomplished 15th of 25 teams, to which Jake Ratkovich, Parker Herbert, Aakersh Mathur, and Zachary Parker, who had taken a fall during the race while leading the Gauchos, contributed to the final team score.

"Zachary Parker was in first for our team until a runner in front of him fell and ended up taking him down with him," explained Saxena. "It was super unfortunate because I believe the men could have been in the top 10 as well."

UC Santa Barbara will have three weeks, upon return to the West Coast, to prepare for the Bronco Invitational hosted by Santa Clara on Oct. 19 in Sunnyvale, Calif. The men's 8K race will start at 8:45 a.m. while the women prepare to run beginning at 9:30 a.m.

WOMEN'S RESULTS (249 finishers)
65 - Ava Maier - 18:01.7
75 - Jana Barron - 18:08.1
76 - Sophia Gutierrez - 18:09.7
77 - Lindsey Reed - 18:11.7
89 - Leah Mendibles - 18:23.5
99 - Lexi Darley - 18:30.0
103 - Ryann Strawn - 18:33.0
148 - Alexa Bryson - 19:26.1

UC Santa Barbara placed 8th of 27

MEN'S RESULTS (273 finishers)
41 - Parker Simmons - 24:58.4
76 - Parker Stickney - 25:32.5
95 - Gus Marshall - 25:44.1
112 - Jake Ratkovich - 25:58.9
115 - Parker Herbert - 26:01.9
116 - Aakersh Mathur - 26:05.3
124 - Zachary Parker - 26:09.9
138 - Advait Kirshnan - 26:22.5
154 - Manny Correia - 26:49.2

UC Santa Barbara placed 15th of 25