University Southern California Trojans
USC
Stanford Invitational
Erdelyi Leads Trojans At Stanford Invitational
September 26, 2009 | Women's Cross Country
Sept. 26, 2009
PALO ALTO, CALIF. - USC junior Zsofia Erdelyi made her 2009 cross country debut today (Sept. 26) and led the Trojans with a 13th-place finish at the Stanford Invitational held in Palo Alto, Calif. The 6K race in oppressive heat on the Stanford Golf Course was won by the host Cardinal, with the Trojans capturing 11th place as a team.
"I think Zsofia Erdelyi and Christine Cortez ran well today," said USC cross country coach Tom Walsh. "Zsofia stayed with the leaders as long as she could. She dropped back the last mile because she has been out with an injury and her fitness level is not where it will be. Christine ran well. She's starting to run much better and I expect her to be much better by the end of the season."
Erdelyi missed the first few weeks of the season with a foot injury, but had a solid first race and battled some of the Pac-10's top runners to finish 13th with a time of 21:04. It was on this same course last season that Erdelyi set a PR with a time of 20.17.01 to take eighth place at the 2008 NCAA Regionals and earn a berth at the NCAA Championships.
Junior transfer Christine Cortez was USC's next finisher at 78th with a time of 22:54 in her first career 6K race. Right behind her was senior captain Bridget Helgerson who placed 79th with a time of 22:55.
Freshman Kathleen Moloney and Kelly Owen were the final scoring runners for USC as Moloney took 98th with a time of 23:18 and Owen 108th with a time of 23:25.
Sophomore Leah Gaeta, who is from Palo Alto, was the next Trojan to cross the finish line with a time of 23:31, good for 116th place. Rounding out the Trojan efforts was senior Katherine Ellis who came in 130th with a time of 23:53.
Players Mentioned
