Courtesy of Pima Athletics
(Tucson, AZ) The Pima Community College men’s and women’s cross country teams competed at the NJCAA Region I Championships on Monday at Freestone Park in Gilbert, AZ.
The Aztecs women’s team claimed the second place plaque for the second straight year afterthe Aztecs finished with a team score of 65 points. Central Arizona College took first with 27 points. The Aztecs beat out Mesa Community College (74), Paradise Valley Community College (76) and Estrella Mountain Community College (128).
Freshman Mary Siml was the top finisher for the Aztecs in the 5K (3.1-mile) race as she took second place out of 34 competitors with a time of 18 minutes, 24.4 seconds. Sophomore Katherine Bruno (Canyon del Oro HS) placed third with a time of 18:26.6. Siml and Bruno both earned first team All-Region I honors (two-time honor for Bruno). Sophomore Kaylen Fox (Sahuaro HS) took 15th place at 19:56.2 as she was named All-Region I Honorable Mention.
The Aztecs men’s team took fourth in the final standings with a score of 97 points. The Aztecs beat out Glendale Community College (124) and Estrella Mountain (158). Central Arizona took first place with 21 points.
Freshmen Luis Tarazon (Desert View HS) and David Veloz (Pueblo HS) were each named All-Region I Honorable Mention. Tarazon finished the 8K (4.97-mile) race in 14th place with a time of 26:55.6. Veloz was 15th out of 39 runners with a time of 26:58.2.
The Aztecs women’s team along with Tarazon and Veloz will compete at the NJCAA National Championships on Saturday, Nov. 10 at the Buffalo Dunes Golf Course in Garden City, KS. The women’s race will be at 10:00 a.m. and the men’s race will be at 11:00 a.m.