Bakersfield College’s men’s and women’s cross-country teams have started their season. On Sept. 21, both teams had a Western State Conference preview meet at Cuesta College. The women placed second and the men placed eighth out of 13 teams. According to men’s coach Dave Frickel, “Shawna Rountree is the top so far. She’s probably fourth in the state; she got second in the championship last spring.”
Top runners for the men’s team include Cesar Mireles and Erik Medrano, said Frickel. This year’s teams have more newcomers than returning runners. Out of the men’s 14-person team, one is a returning sophomore, and only three members of the women’s team are returning sophomores.
The next conference meet on Oct. 23 will decide who goes on to the Southern California Finals later this season.
“Last year, the girls finished third at the state meet, so we’re going to try to do that well. We’re going to try to get the entire team into the state championship,” said Frickel.