Oct. 19, 2002

San Luis Obispo, Calif - With a select group of Gauchos in Indiana for the weekend, the Cal Poly Invitational might have lacked the anticipation of prior years. Fortunately, someone forgot to tell Gaucho junior Pablo Gallegos and senior Elizabeth Mallon. Gallegos, a native of Oxnard finished 7th, running the hilly 8k course in 27:07 to lead the Gaucho men to a 3rd-place team finish, narrowly losing to Fresno State and UCLA's 'A' teams. Mallon, a senior from Long Beach, ran an excellent race finishing 21st (19:12) to lead the 6th-place Gaucho women.

Behind Gallegos, senior Darren Salmi made a strong closing surge to run second for the Gauchos and 12th overall (27:16), with junior David Monico close behind in 14th (27:17). Sophomore Alex Cardiasmenos (22nd, 27:48) ran fourth, with sophomore Scott McConville (32nd, 28:15) and junior Jason Boyce (34th, 28:17) coming in together.

The women's race saw freshman Seanna Martin run second for the Gauchos (26th, 19:28), with Laura Zung (32nd, 19:46), Diana Quinones (38th, 20:12), Kristin Chadez (45th, 20:44) and Leslie Alexander (47th, 20:53) also finishing for the Gauchos.

The Gaucho Cross Country teams will return to action this Friday in Fullerton with the 'B' squads competing at the Titan Invitational. The rest of the team will prepare for November 2nd's Big West Championship race at U.C. Riverside.

Men - 3rd -Pablo Gallegos - 7th, 27:07 -Darren Salmi - 12th, 27:16 -David Monico - 14th, 27:17 -Alex Cardiasmenos - 22nd, 27:48 -Scott McConville - 32nd, 28:15 -Jason Boyce - 34th, 28:17 -Ben Berkowitz - 35th, 28:22 -Justin Coburn - 39th, 28:38 -Khalil Hallack - 41st, 28:44

Women - 6th -Elizabeth Mallon - 21st, 19:12 -Seanna Martin - 26th, 19:28 -Laura Zung - 32nd, 19:46 -Diana Quinones - 38th, 20:12 -Kristin Chadez - 45th, 20:44 -Leslie Alexander - 47th, 20:53