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Cal Poly Pomona Athletics

Leandro Candray
Greg Siller

Men's XC Places 30th At NCAA Championships

11/20/2021 4:48:00 PM

OFFICIAL RESULTS
FULL VIDEO REPLAY

SAINT LEO, Fla. --
Leandro Candray was the top finisher for the Cal Poly Pomona men's cross country team at the 2021 NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships on Saturday, finishing in 105th place after traversing the 10-kilometer course in 32:38.2.  The true freshman paced the Broncos, which finished 30th out of 34 teams on The Abbey Course in Saint Leo, Fla.

Grand Valley State won its second national championship in three seasons, tallying 43 points, due in part by its Top 2 runners placing one and two in the field of 245 competitors.  Adams State came in second with 84 points, followed by Colorado School of Mines taking third with a score of 123.  GVSU's Isaac Harding won the individual national championship, crossing the line in 29:58.3, nine seconds ahead of his teammate Tanner Chada.

In a crowded field, the Broncos got as high as 21st place after the first 1.3 kilometers, but fell back and eventually came in 30th.  Vincent Sarino opened the meet in 74th place after the first 550 meters, but that would be as high in the field as any CPP runner would get all morning.

Despite a slow start that saw Candray in 184th place after the first split at 550 meters, he gradually improved his standing throughout the race before taking his place at 105th.  Sarino was the second finisher for CPP, running the course in 33:09.4 for a 149th place finish.  Gideon Pichardo took 175th with a time of 33:34.5 and Francisco Zavaleta came in right behind Pichardo at 176th in a time of 33:35.3.  Daniel Echeveste took 209th place in a time of 34:38.4 while Diego Duran crossed the line in 34:46.8, good for 213th place.  Nicholas Albro also started the race, but bowed out after the five-kilometer split.

Saturday marked the 22nd NCAA Nationals appearance for the CPP men's cross country team.