Knights Headed to State Championship for First Time in 32 Years

For the first time since 1989, the San Diego City College women's cross country team is headed to the state championship meet after qualifying with a 13th place finish at the Southern California regional championship on Friday with freshmen Sofya Chernyak and Isabelle Dalton leading the way. 

All six runners for the Knights had their best performances of the season as they each set a new personal record. 

Chernyak, who has been the first Knight to cross the finish line in five of the six meets this season, came in 37th place overall at Friday's regional championship, held at Mile Square Park in Fountain Valley. She ran the 5k course in 20:17.8, which is nearly a minute faster than her previous best this year.

She was followed by Dalton who trimmed 1:22 off her personal best from two weeks ago at the PCAC championship. She clocked in at 20:35.9 and finished 50th overall. It was the first time this season that she was second among the Knights. 

Yesenia Huerta was not too far behind Dalton as she posted a time of 20:42.6 for 53rd place. It was 36 seconds faster than her previous best set at the PCAC championship. 

Calysta Lopez cut eight seconds off her best 5k time and completed the Mile Squar Park couse in 23:10.2, which was good for 94th overall. 

Natalie Garcia and Rachel rounded out the scorers for the Knights with Garcia finishing with a time of 25:09.2 (111th) and Rachel Karalnikc knocking seven seconds off her previous best with a time of 26:32.9 (120th).

The Knights have sent individual runners to the state championship in recent years, but this will be the first time in 32 years that the whole team will run. The state meet will be held at Fresno's Woodward Park on November 20 with a 10 a.m. start.