RIVERSIDE, Calif. The University of California Riverside Highlanders mens and womens cross country teams competed at the 45th Annual UCR Invitational on Saturday at the Ag/Ops Cross Country Course. Nicole Alfred and Eshaan Hussain led their respective teams with strong individual performances.
In the womens 6K race, Nicole Alfred finished 23rd out of 269 runners with a time of 20:47.0, earning 22 points for UC Riverside. The Highlanders women placed 11th overall with 339 points. Makayla Anderson followed with a 41st-place finish at 21:06.3, and Anna Field placed 63rd in 21:21.4. Freshman Nadia Mejia contributed to the team score with a 110th-place finish.
On the mens side, Eshaan Hussain led UC Riverside by placing 31st out of 219 runners in the 8K race with a time of 24:18.1, scoring 27 points. The men’s team finished 10th overall with 313 points. Eamon Wright was the second Highlander finisher in 49th place, followed by Finn Babbitt in 62nd. Freshman Brady Bertsch also contributed with a 111th-place finish.
The Highlanders will next compete at the Bill Dellinger Invitational in Eugene, Oregon, on Friday, October 9.
CSB Take
Nicole Alfred and Eshaan Hussain provided key leadership and delivered solid performances for the UC Riverside Highlanders at their home invitational, helping their teams secure mid-pack finishes against competitive fields. Contributions from both returning athletes and freshmen suggest promising depth as the Highlanders prepare to face stronger competition in upcoming events. Continued progression and team cohesion will be essential for UC Riverside to enhance their standing within the Big West Conference this season.
Source: Original report
