THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — The Cal Lutheran Regals cross country team heads into the 2018 season with the largest incoming class the program has had in a number of years. Led by juniors Rachel Ereso and Erin MacNeal, the Regals name pack-running as their biggest strength heading into the season.
"From what I see on paper, personal record-wise, we should have a lot of close individuals which we haven't always had in the past, which allows for pack-running," assistant coach Brett Halvaks explained, "They're going to be able to really work together in practice and transition well into meets. We'll be able to get five, if not seven, across the line very quickly and in a close bunch, and that's how we're going to score really well as a team."
Names expected to lead that pack are juniors Ereso and MacNeal.
Ereso enters 2018 as the team's top returner. She finished first amongst the team in all six meets last year, recording her best 6K time of 23:31.36 at the NCAA Division III West Regional Championships. She additionally finished in the top-25 overall in three consecutive weeks: the SCIAC Multi-Duals (23rd), the Pomona-Pitzer Invitational (24th) and the SCIAC Championships (23rd).
"She finished just outside of All-SCIAC last year, which is top-20, so we're hoping for her as a junior this season to take the next step and get in that top-20 range."
Running closely with Ereso, MacNeil returns as the team's second-best performer from 2017. The junior finished second amongst the team in two of her four meets last season. She recorded her best finish at the SCIAC Championships (52nd) and notched her best time of 25:15.12 at the Pomona-Pitzer Invitational.
The pair share leadership with team captain, Kylie Rodriguez, who is the only athlete between the men and women's cross country programs that has been a part of the program all four years of their collegiate career.
Halvaks leans on her to bring veteran experience to the team, "She knows my coaching and what I'm expecting out of practices."
Joining the upperclassmen are four incoming freshmen, who have the new challenge of a conference schedule change.
"We took out our multi-dual meet this year. In the past, we've had to two races that determined SCIAC championships, but this year the coaches voted to cut out the middle one of the season. So now there's only one race that determines your entire SCIAC standing."
Halvaks on the impact of the schedule change, "I don't know if it changes the pressure on them as much as it changes the pressure on me and how I coach it. I used to have them peak twice in a season. Now, I'm focused on what we can do to be one hundred percent ready for the end of October."
The women's cross country team finished seventh in the SCIAC standings last season. They look to move up this season, starting with the Mark Covert Classic on Saturday, September 1.
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Release by Christy Effendie, Assistant Sports Information Director
