El Paisano

Issue date: 10/23/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: David Munoz/El Paisano Ruben Martinez works on his pace for the Santa Barbara Invitational.

A change of scenery in sports is sometimes called upon to bring about change or to shake things up in a time of need or when a team may be just coasting by.

A change of scenery for the Rio Hondo men's and women's cross country teams proved to be just what the doctor ordered.

Leadletter Beach in Santa Barbara was the site of the Santa Barbara Invitational Oct. 18, just this past weekend.

Over 20 colleges were in attendance for this cross country meet, one of the final invitationals of the year.

Coach Geoff Skarr said, "It was another good invitational for the men's cross country team at the Santa Barbara Invitational this last weekend."

And right he was, as yet again Rio Hondo's own Ruben Martinez (sophomore) snagged seventh place overall in the invite with a time of 22:39 in the four-mile run.

Martinez's lead proved to be good enough for the men to take home fifth place overall for community colleges as he was closely followed by last year's top runner Ulises Lorenzo with a time of 23:01, though Riverside College took home the win as a team.

Other Roadrunners trailed the two but provided just enough of a boost for them to place as well as they did.

Ervin Romo 23:24, Miguel Dorantes 23:36, Eli Canchola 23:46, Eddie Aguilar 24:12, and Damian Garcia 24:43 rounded out the top seven from Rio Hondo.

For the women's team it was the same great story, team effort led by a standout.

Coach Skarr proudly stated, "Roxy Raigosa had her first breakthrough race of the year at the Santa Barbara Invitational."

Raigosa led the Roadrunners to a seventh place finish overall as a team with her breakout time of 20:43 in the women's three-mile run which was good enough for 37th in a field of over 160 women runners.
Orange Coast College, however, took home the women's first place trophy.

Following her lead was Lupe DeAlba 21:24, followed closely by Ashley Huizar (21:26), Melissa Cortes 21:46, Khai Soong 22:37, Ashley Martinez 23:48, and Lizette Guzman 24:45.

The Roadrunners are nearing the end as the men have Foothill Conference Finals on Oct. 29 and the women go head to head with College of the Desert next week for a shot at the Conference title at the championships Wednesday.

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