LODI, Calif. — The University of the Pacific men’s cross country team achieved a milestone by winning the Pacific Invitational at Micke Grove Golf Course in Lodi, California. This marked the first time the program secured a first-place finish at its home meet in only its second season.
Sophomore Jett Davenport led the Tigers with a commanding individual victory, clocking a time of 24:47.3. Davenport became the first men’s runner from Pacific to win the home meet. Freshmen Braden Himley and Thomas Capelli also delivered strong performances, finishing among the top five with times of 25:38.3 and 25:40.1, respectively, contributing significantly to the team’s scoring total.
The women’s team placed third as a group, led by sophomore Alexane Hunte who finished 12th overall in the 6-kilometer race with a time of 22:38.0. Four female runners finished in the top 20.
Comments From Coach and Athlete
Coach Cherise Roberts praised the men’s team performance, highlighting Davenport’s race strategy. “Jett executed that race perfectly. He went out with the lead pack and when it broke up, he stayed with the lead runner. I was so happy with how the men’s team performed. Before the race, I said to forget about the time and just race the bodies. I told them I cared about effort. Every single one of them put in the effort and I was happy to get a win out of it.”
Davenport reflected on his win, stating, “My main goal was just to compete. I ran a good pace for a while. It got really hard toward the end, but I decided that I wanted it more, and I went for it. Bringing the win home here for Pacific and the community felt so great.”
Next Steps for Pacific Cross Country
The Pacific Tigers are preparing for the Bronco Invitational hosted by Santa Clara on October 17, aiming to build on their momentum from the home meet victory.
CSB Take
The University of the Pacific men’s cross country team’s first home meet win marks an important step in the development of this young program. Jett Davenport’s individual victory highlights rising talent, while contributions from freshmen runners suggest promising depth. This achievement provides the Tigers with a confidence boost as they prepare for upcoming competitions, positioning them for continued progress in the season.
Source: Original report
