Cal Opens 2020-21 Campaign At Dave Murray Invite
BERKELEY - After more than a year without competition, the Golden Bears' cross country teams kick off the 2020-21 season at the Dave Murray Invitational on Friday at the Rolling Hills Golf Club in Tucson, Arizona.
The event is hosted by the University of Arizona with the men's 8k race set to start at 9 a.m. MT, followed by the women's 6k race at 9:45 a.m. MT. California will be competing against four teams: Arizona, Arizona State, UCLA, and New Mexico St. (women's only).
There will be no spectators allowed at Friday's event, in accordance with COVID-19 safety protocols. Live results links can be found on CalBears.com.
"Given the timeframe we've had to train, we're fairly prepared for this season" head coach Bobby Lockhart said. "We're competing as a unit this weekend, it'll be a team effort."
Lockhart is set to begin his second season as head coach of the Cal cross country team and he's joined by Trevor Dunbar in his first season as an assistant coach for the Bears.
The Blue and Gold will be represented by a selection of veteran athletes for the team's first-ever appearance at the Dave Murray Invitational.
On the men's side, redshirt senior Ben Harper will be returning to the course after a successful 2019 season when he competed in a total of six meets. In the 2019 season opener, Harper took home fourth-place at the USF Invitational. Harper also set a personal best at the 2019 Pac-12 Championships with a time of 24:45.6.1 in the 8k race.
Sophomore Ethan Bersley will also be competing for the men's squad following his collegiate debut in 2019. Bersley set a personal best 8k mark in 2019 at the Santa Clara Bronco Invitational, recording a time of 25:10.7.
Senior Steven Khan returns to action for the Golden Bears after setting a personal record in the 8k at the Pac-12 Championships with a time of 24:42.5. Khan also helped the men's team claim their second consecutive USF Invitational title in 2019, finishing in 21st place to help the squad clinch the win.
Senior Annie Boos will once again lead the way for the women's squad following two top 10 finishes during the 2019 cross country season, placing seventh at the USF Invitational and sixth at the Stump Invitational, both early on in the 2019 campaign.
Redshirt senior Chloe Hansel makes her return Friday following a successful 2019 season when she competed in six meets for the Golden Bears. Hansel helped the women's team take the win at the 2019 USF Invitational with her 29th-place finish.
Following her mid-season start to the 2019 campaign, sophomore Sara Osterberg is set to debut for the women's squad on Friday. In her collegiate debut last season, Osterberg logged her best mark and finish at the Capital Cross Challenge, locking in fourth-place with a time of 21:56.4.