SHASTA COLLEGE DEFENDS HOME TURF

REDDING, Calif. – Shasta College's men's cross-country team fully understands the mentality of home course advantage.

The Knights once again had the overall winner for the men on their home course as freshman Chris Meeder ran the 4-mile course in 21 minutes, 48 seconds – a 5:27 average mile – at the Shasta College Think Pink Open Invitational Friday.

Meeder finished 12 seconds ahead of College of the Redwoods' Nicholas Brichta to win the race. With two meets at home this year, Shasta's Donald Leedy and Meeder have taken turns as the leader and protected the course that belongs to the Knights.

"Neither one of them will let an opponent win at our home course," said Katy Cottrell, Shasta College's head cross-country coach. "Chris is really becoming a smart runner and has PR'd in four of five meets this season. We look forward to seeing him continue to lead the conference."

Runners from five teams competed at the meet and Shasta was third with 52 points. Modesto was first with 36 points and Butte was second with 38 points.

Leedy, a sophomore, was sixth in 22:52, while sophomore Samuel Grafe was 13th (23:32), and freshmen Benjamin Mueller (19th, 24:54) and Blaine Haris (22nd, 25:18) rounded out the Knights' team.

WOMEN'S CROSS-COUNTRY

Shasta College didn't field a full team with only two of their six runners competing. Redwoods won with 30 points and was followed by Sierra College (35 points), Butte (68) and College of the Siskiyous (77), respectively.

Shasta freshman Julie Bradley was the top finisher of the two, taking 16th overall and running the 5K course in 23:40 for an average mile of 7:36. Freshman Brianna Dubose was 23rd in 27:26.

All except one of the Knights have never ran cross-country before, Cottrell said.

"Both women PR'd," Cottrell said. "All of them have found love for the sport, for running and their dedication is starting to pay off with huge improvement and successes."

Both the Shasta College men and women are racing Friday at the Butte College Invitational at the Oroville Forebay with women beginning at 3 p.m. and men at 4 p.m.