Owls Open Cross Country Season at Pirate Invitational

The Citrus College Cross Country team kicked off the 2025 season on Friday, August 29, at the Pirate XC Invitational hosted by Ventura College at Arroyo Verde Park in Ventura.

Sophomore Noah Rodriguez set the tone early, charging with the front pack and even flashing a confident wave to his coaches and teammates at the half-mile mark. Rodriguez stayed composed, pacing himself in the top group before surging late to place 5th overall in the men's 4-mile with a time of 23:36.9 (5:54/mile). Among community college runners, he finished 3rd overall, with only a pair of unattached participants ahead of him.

Jonathan Evangelista followed with a strong performance, finishing 15th in 25:19.3 (6:19/mile). Not far behind, Luis Amador returned to collegiate racing for the first time in over two years, crossing in 27:23.7 to place 33rd among community college runners. Just a few seconds later, David Evangelista came through at 27:26.1, finishing 34th.

Making his collegiate debut, freshman Juan Esteva clocked 29:56.4, placing 40th among community college competitors and helping the Owls secure a 5th-place team finish in the men's 4-mile—narrowly edging NCAA Division III Cal Lutheran University.

On the women's side, freshman Berenice Godinez made her debut with a time of 40:40.1. When asked about her first cross country race, she lightheartedly summed it up with one word: "Criminal."

The Owls return to action this Friday, September 5, at the Oxnard College Invitational.