MONMOUTH, Ore. - Cal Poly Pomona men's cross country secured a strong third-place team finish at the NCAA Division II West Region Championships on Saturday morning in Monmouth, Oregon. The Broncos totaled 97 points with a cumulative time of 2:31:38 over the 10,000-meter course, earning a return trip to the NCAA Championships later this month.
 
Junior Ricardo Vargas led the charge with a stellar runner-up performance, crossing the line in 29:30.5, just four seconds behind the individual champion and marking the fastest time at the West Regionals in program history. Vargas's effort set the tone for a tightly packed Bronco squad that once again proved its depth and consistency against the top programs in the West.
 
Junior Juan Ramos followed with a strong 14th-place finish in 30:12.0, while fellow junior Jimmy Guerrero was right behind in 20th at 30:25.9. Senior Tom McDonnell clocked 30:40.2 for 28th, and senior Daniel Echeveste rounded out the scoring in 33rd at 30:50.2. Senior Jacob Shirota (31:16.3) and senior Francisco Zavaleta (31:37.1) provided valuable depth in the sixth and seventh positions.
 
The performance marks yet another impressive performance for head coach Chris Bradford's squad, which continues to be a fixture among the region's elite. Cal Poly Pomona finished behind only Chico State and Western Washington, beating out Alaska Anchorage and Northwest Nazarene in a competitive field of 23 teams.
 
With the top three regional teams automatically advancing, the Broncos now set their sights on the NCAA Division II National Championships, where they'll look to build on their momentum and contend among the nation's best.
 
 
Up Next
The Broncos continue their postseason run and will advance to the NCAA Division II National Championships, marking their 25th appearance at nationals in program history. The race will take place on Saturday, November 22nd, at Wayne E. Dannehl Cross Country Course in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
 
 
Bronco Bits

• The Broncos currently have an 88-11 record this season. A "win" is a team they finished ahead of, while a "loss" is teams they finished behind.
• Head coach Chris Bradford's teams have a 619-205 record since 2017.
• Saturday was Ricardo Vargas' tenth top finish for CPP in a race, tying for fourth-most all-time.
• The Broncos have now made the NCAA National Championships in three straight seasons.