At San Diego Mesa College, preparation is the heartbeat of the cross country program. Head coach Sean Ricketts makes sure his athletes don’t just compete in familiar grounds but also gain experience on the road. This past weekend, the Olympians traveled to Western Oregon University for the annual Michael Johnson Classic

Out-of-state meets may seem like a perk, but for Ricketts and his team, they’re strictly about preparation. “Everything we do is focused on preparation,” Ricketts said. “Meets like this give our athletes the chance to travel, race longer distances, and compete against top-level teams, which will be crucial when championship season arrives.” He also chose the Johnson Classic because it offered European-style all-grass course, the same type often used at four-year championship meets. 

The women’s team turned in a solid 10th-place finish in the 6K. Jazzlyn Islas led the way, placing 20th with a time of 21:42, followed by Natalie Allen, who clocked 22:11 for 38th place. 

On the men’s side, the Olympians finished 9th in the 8K. Lucci Roberts crossed in 25:06 for 35th place, while Garrett Cloyd added a strong performance of 25:25 to secure 47th place. 

Races are decided long before the starting line, and preparation is what separates a good program from a great one. With Ricketts and his staff guiding them, both the men’s and women’s teams are poised for another successful season.

Complete Results here. 

Next Up:
Pink in the Park Invitational at Toro Park in Salinas, California. Hartnell College will host the event starting at 10:30 a.m.