The University of California, Santa Barbara men’s cross country team captured first place at the Kim Duyst Invitational on September 12, 2026, held in Ceres, California. The women’s team delivered a strong performance as well, finishing second overall at the same meet.
Senior Manny Correia led the men’s squad with a sixth-place finish in the 8K race, recording a personal-best time of 24 minutes, 33.9 seconds. Close behind, Will Mulliken and Camden Leucht secured seventh and ninth places, respectively, both setting personal records with times of 24:35.5 and 24:37.2. Supporting the team effort, Nate Osborn and Matthew Galindo also posted sub-25-minute finishes, contributing to the Gauchos’ overall team victory.
On the women’s side, sophomore Jordin Lieberman finished second in the 6K race with a personal-best 20:44.9, leading UC Santa Barbara’s effort. Four Gaucho women runners placed within the top 10, including Sierra Gill, Ryann Strawn, and Addie Oversmith, ensuring a second-place team result.
The Gauchos will next compete at the Chicago Lakefront Invitational hosted by Loyola Chicago on September 25, 2026, continuing their 2026 season campaign.
CSB Take
The UC Santa Barbara Gauchos men’s and women’s cross country teams demonstrated early-season strength at the Kim Duyst Invitational through multiple personal bests and top-10 finishes. Standout individual performances, particularly by Manny Correia and Jordin Lieberman, alongside solid team depth, position UCSB well for an ambitious fall schedule. As they prepare for their upcoming meet in Chicago, the Gauchos appear poised to maintain momentum en route to the Big West Conference Championships in late October.
Source: Original report
