FPU cross country runners competed alongside more than 200 participants at the annual Watermelon Run at Fresno State on Saturday. Ten athletes from the 2010 team competed in the two-mile race, with junior
Isai Orea and freshman
Brandon Croft finishing fifth and sixth respectively.
Orea finished with a time of 9:57, one second ahead of his teammate Croft. Senior Amanda Johnson was the third female finisher to cross, with a time of 11:50.
Sophomore Marvin Ortiz and freshman Artem Pyryev rounded out the Sunbirds’ men’s teams, coming in with times of 10:34 and 11:08 respectively.
On the women’s side, Johnson was followed by Vanessa Carrasco (13:02), Jesse Alanis (13:12), Megan Barnard (13:16), Sarah Tomamichel (13:52) and Amanda Straw (14:13).
The women’s team ran with Psalm 119:28 and “CBU” written on their legs, in honor of fellow GSAC cross country team California Baptist that was recently involved in a car accident.
The race included a wide variety of participants from local colleges, community members and high school teams. Ryan Phillips of Clovis High won the race with a time of 9:45.
The the team's next race is Saturday, September 11, at the CSU Stanislaus Invitational in Turlock.