Lucy Westlake Leads USC Cross Country At UC Riverside Invitational
Freshman Lucy Westlake led the Trojans at the UC Riverside Invitational (6K) on the Ag Ops Course in Riverside, Calif. today (Sept. 17). It was the first 6K race of the season and was run on the course that the Trojans will utilize when they host the Pac-12 Championships on Oct. 28.
"The first three women (Westlake, Janiah Brown and Mihajla Milovanovic), I wanted them to go out and attack the first mile. They executed the race. Of course, we are preparing for Pac-12s and the rest of the season, so I wanted them to get familiar with the course. Fitness-wise we are good. We are in the heat of some deep training right now.
"I'm proud of two of the young ladies (Vienna Gao and Jacqueline Duarte), for the first time putting on the shield. It was good for them to step up for their teammates that could not be here today, so I'm proud of them."
Running in her first 6K race, Westlake led the Trojans for the second straight meet, finishing with a time of 22:02.9. Westlake was able to advance 11 positions over the final third of the race.
Senior Janiah Brown was the next Trojan to finish and she posted a PR of 22:16.6. Her time was 29 seconds faster than her previous 6K best set at the 2021 UC Riverside Invitational. Senior Mihajla Milovanovic was the third Trojan to complete the course, finishing with a time of 22:32.6.
Sophomore Vienna Gao, in her first race as a Trojan and first 6K race, was the fourth Trojan to cross the finish line, posting a time of 23:13.5. USC's final scoring runner was freshman Liyat Kebbede who had a time of 23:57.5 in her first career 6K race. She moved up five spots during the final 2K of the race.
Redshirt freshman Jacqueline Duarte was able to compete as a Trojan for the first time due to injuries and finished with a time of 24:22.8. Senior Brooke Rodi was the seventh Trojan finisher and she had a time of 25:58.5.
The Trojans will be in heavy training until running again at the Bronco Invitational in Sunnyvale, Calif. on Oct. 15.