IRVINE, Calif. – Multiple veteran runners will lead the way for the Concordia women's cross country team this fall season.
The Golden Eagles were projected to be a top four team in the PacWest Conference Preseason Poll voted on by head coaches. The ladies will be led this year by former CUI distance runner David Pleitez,
who was hired by his alma mater this summer after spending the past two seasons at Cal State San Marcos.
The ladies have multiple strong returners including First Team All-Conference runner
Ania Kapustka. The grad student is a threat to win any race and finished fourth at the PacWest Championships a year ago after coming to CUI from Portland State. She was also Top 15 at the West Regional last fall.
CUI added a talented transfer in
Ryann Smith who will be a redshirt junior this season. She comes to Concordia from Alaska Anchorage and place 18
th at GNAC Championships, which by PacWest standards would have been good for a Third Team All-Conference showing.
Senior
Emily Littlefield and sophomore
Adamara Esparza also have placed as top five scorers for Concordia and will look to level up once more with the new fall season fast approaching.
CUI has depth this season with additional returners
Isabelle Albaladejo,
Kimberly Cerny,
Mariza Chavez,
Lizbeth Garcia,
Sofia Lorenzo,
Olivia Reed,
Elizabeth Smorick and
Lillian Strahm helping the cause.
The Green and Gold also include six new freshmen who will look to make their mark. That exciting group involved
Elle Diedrich (Grand Junction Central HS),
Brianna Hayes (Core Butte HS),
Lydia Leeman (Desert Vista HS),
Edith McCall (Boyd Buchanan School),
Amanda Palomino (La Mirada HS), and
Elizabeth Roberts (Roosevelt HS).
Concordia begins its season this Saturday at the Coyote Challenge out in San Bernardino.
CLICK HERE for the full CUI women's cross country schedule
