Otters Enjoy Big Day At CCAA Championship Meet

October 26, 2013 | By: By Kevin Gilmore

The Otters pulled off their best-ever showings at the 2013 CCAA Championships in terms of both team and individual finishes.

Bell named All-CCAA, Henderson men's Freshman of the Year

MEN'S RESULTS | WOMEN'S RESULTS

CHICO, Calif. — The Cal State Monterey Bay cross country teams continued their best seasons at the NCAA Division II level Saturday with their strongest team and individual showings ever at the CCAA Cross Country Championship on Chico's Lower Bidwell Park course.

Sophomore Hannah Bell (Yorba Linda/Esperanza HS) became CSUMB's first female All–CCAA pick in cross country, Connor Henderson (South Lake Tahoe HS) became its first cross country CCAA Freshman of the Year and both teams made their strongest team showings ever.

"Results explain plenty but can miss details," said CSUMB Head Coach Greg Rhines (@gdrhines). "Bell moved up more than 15 spots compared to last year. Jessica McIntyre (Los Alamitos HS) missed Freshman of the Year by one spot and Jennie Yeaman (Escondido/Mission Hills HS) did her job staying consistent in races."

Bell's time of 22:49.7 was good enough for 14th place and her first All–CCAA nod. McIntyre (29th, 23:04.7) and Yeaman (49th, 23:54.0) also placed in the top half of the field, leading the Otters to a 10th place finish with a school–record 210 points.

"I honestly thought the women's team would've placed higher today," said Rhines. "Baby steps are being taken in the right direction. We have a tough conference and will only get better."

On the men's side, Ben Garland (Santa Cruz/Harbor HS) missed a spot on the All–CCAA team by 2.1 seconds, finishing 16th in 25:24.6. Henderson, however, added to the Otter trophy case by sharing CCAA Freshman of the Year honors with a 29th place finish in 26:10.5.

Ryan Torres (Ripon HS), Logan Coe (Lafayette/Campolindo HS), Dan Metzger (Reno, Nev./Galena HS) and Karson Hayden (Huntington Beach/Servite HS) also scored for the Otters.

That group led the Otters to 6th place, CSUMB's best–ever finish in the CCAA, with a school–record 173 points.

"Garland also moved up compared to last year, blazing a good time on a slow course," said Rhines. "Henderson grabbed the freshman award and Torres was close behind.

"The men did their best, and results are beginning to show. Both teams have shown the CCAA that Monterey Bay cross country has something to share and we're getting faster. I'm proud of these women and men for putting it out there in a sport that is little known. They work their tails off and CSUMB is much better off because of this".