Bakersfield College cross country runner Clarissa Rivera placed fifth in the women’s 5,000 meter race (3.1 miles) at the Citrus College Invitational meet on Oct. 6.
Rivera also placed fifth at the annual BC Invitational meet on Sept. 29 by running her race in 18 minutes, 46 seconds. She has improved her time by 30 seconds faster than last year. “Improving my time by 30 seconds was exciting and a PR (personal record) for me,” Rivera said.
This is Rivera’s second year on the team and she feels confident.
She began running in cross country her junior year while attending Delano High School. In only her second year of competing in cross country, she qualified for the state meet.
She finished third with a personal best of 19 minutes 29 seconds – the top time in Kern County – at the Grand Masters Meet.
She was 10th in Central Section Division 1 (19:54), second in East Yosemite League finals and finished 75th in Division I at the state meet in 19:45.
Rivera was also named Kern County’s all-area cross country runner of the year in 2004.
She was a very good prospect for BC’s cross country team, and she has definitely proven her potential. In her first season at BC last year, Rivera finished second at the Southern California finals. Currently, she is the number one runner on the BC women’s team.
Rivera attributes the team’s success to the team’s ability to closing the gap in between them individually during the race. “I feel pretty confident, especially with the team we have this year,” Rivera said.
Rivera also acclaims her success to the workouts. The workouts are harder than last year, Rivera said. “Our workouts are more quality workouts rather than quantity,” Rivera said.
She practices six days a week. The team practices Monday and Wednesday twice a day at 6:30 a.m. (speed work) and at 2:30 p.m. (distance).
Rivera plans on graduating next spring and transferring to a four-year school.
She has already talked to Stanislaus University and Fresno State but has not officially committed to either one.
Rivera hopes to obtain a full ride scholarship to help out her parents financially. Currently, she is pretty confident in her running. “I want to do my best. I know that I have some potential,” Rivera said.
BC women’s coach, Pam Kelley, is confident the team is having a better year. “We have a stronger team this year than last year.”
As a team, the BC women placed second, scoring 61 points at the BC Invitational on Sept. 29. The BC women also placed second at the Citrus College Invitational on Oct. 6.
Both the women’s and men’s cross country teams will be at the Toro Park Invitational meet on Oct. 14.