Allen sets the pace for Pirates at Vanguard Invitational
ORANGE -- Orange Coast College cross country standout Alyssa Allen topped the field at the 26th-Annual Vanguard Invitational on Saturday as the sophomore topped the the NAIA-level field at Irvine Park.
Allen set the pace throughout the 5K race with an average mile time of 5:58.5. Down the stretch, it became a two-person showdown between Allen and Lewis-Clark University junior Katelyn Skiles. In the end, Allen crossed the finish line first with a time of 18 minutes, 33.82 seconds, while Skiles finished second with a time of 18:34.84. Lewis-Clark teammate Ariel Jensen finished a distant third with a time of 18:48.09, showing the strength of Allen's performance.
Other top times for the Pirates included Bethani Heising (19:54.35), Karen Cruz (20:21.01), Jennilee Reyes (21:59.37), Tarah Buckels (23:11.1). Elizabeth Diaz Cortes (23:22.68).
The Pirates finished sixth overall in the meet with 149 points, while Lewis-Clark topped the field with 43 points.
Coast will return to action on Friday at the Mt. San Antonio College Invitational, beginning at 10 a.m.
