OAKLAND – Paced by freshman Shareese Mulholland and senior Alfonso Paez, the Menlo College women’s and men’s cross country teams posted second-place finishes at the Third Annual Holy Names Cross Country Invitational on Sept. 30 at Bort Meadow in Chabot Regional Park.

Mulholland navigated the women’s five-kilometer (3.1 miles) race in 24 minutes, 26 seconds as the Oaks finished with 28 points, one shy of tying Pacific Union for the meet title. Becky Tavera finished second for the Oaks and eighth overall in a time of 26:23. Other point earners for Menlo included Ashley Evans-Smith (29:18) and J’aime Sage (29:27), who finished 11th and 12th, respectively, and Sabrina Lancelotti (29:48), who came in 14th.

Ashley Watkins captured the women’s individual title at 20:23 for an incomplete Bethany team.

Paez, Menlo’s top finisher, completed the men’s eight-kilometer (five miles) race in 33:52. Pablo Sanchez came in second for the Oaks and ninth overall in 33:57. Craig Ryan (35:00) and Joe Garcia (36:35) took 11th and 12th, respectively, followed by John Hayworth (37:49) in 14th.

Holy Names’ Lenin Zapata shattered the old course record (28:10) by nearly new minutes, winning the men’s race with a time of 26:20.

Menlo’s next race is set for Fri., Oct. 7 at the Pacific Union Preview at 11 a.m.

Cross Country Result
3rd Annual Holy Names Cross Country Invitational
Bort Meadow, Chabot Regional Park
Sept. 30, 2005

Men (five miles) – Top five plus Menlo scorers
1.  Lenin Zapata (Holy Names)         26:20
2.  William Ngetich (Holy Names)      26:33
3.  Shawn Gallagher (Holy Names)      30:16
4.  Kamron Shafai (Holy Names)        30:46
5.  Darryl Sanchez (Holy Names)       32:22
8.  Alfonso Paez (Menlo)              33:52
9.  Pablo Sanchez (Menlo)             33:57
11. Craig Ryan (Menlo)                35:00
12. Joe Garcia (Menlo)                36:35
14. John Hayworth (Menlo)             37:49

Women (3.1 miles)
1.  Ashley Watkins (Bethany)          20:23
2.  Jillian Rothgeb (Pacific Union)   20:32
3.  Michelle Roth (Bethany)           22:12
4.  Shareese Mulholland (Menlo)       24:26
5.  Stephanie Jimenez (Holy Names)    24:29
8.  Becky Tavera (Menlo)              26:23
11. Ashley Evans-Smith (Menlo)        29:18
12. J’aime Sage (Menlo)               29:27
14. Sabrina Lancelotti (Menlo)        29:48

Teams
Men
1.  Holy Names                        15
2.  Menlo                             54
3.  Pacific Union                     59

Teams
Men
1.  Pacific Union                     27
2.  Menlo                             28
3.  Bethany                           Inc.
4.  Holy Names                        Inc.