Logo Takes First Place, Aztec Teams Finish First at Mesa CC Thunderbird Classic
The Pima Community College men's and women's cross country teams earned a sweep in the team standings on Saturday at the Mesa CC Thunderbird Classic.
In the men's 4.95-mile race, the No. 10 ranked Aztecs took first place with a team score of 37 points. Pima beat Mesa Community College (55) and Glendale Community College (66) from their conference and six other teams total.
Sophomore Amanuel Logo (Catalina HS) took first place out of 72 competitors with a time of 25 minutes 53.6 seconds. Sophomore Mark Bennett (Marana HS) took fourth place with a time of 26:33.2 while fellow sophomore Hugo Nieves (Sunnyside HS) finished in 11th place at 27:21.2. Sophomore Ahmed Mohamed (Rincon HS) took 12th at 27:23.5 and freshman Armando Antonio Jr. (Desert View HS) crossed the finish line in 18th place at 27:43.7.
"Amanuel established himself as a conference leader today," head coach Greg Wenneborg said.
In women's competition, the Aztecs took first place with a team score of 44 points. The No. 9 ranked Aztecs team beat No. 4 ranked Mesa (49), Paradise Valley Community College (88), Glendale Community College (113) and Estrella Mountain Community College (199) from their conference. They beat out seven other teams total and it was the first time this season Pima had beaten Mesa.
The Aztecs produced five runners in under 20 minutes. Sophomore Kelsey Montano (Tucson Magnet HS) took fourth place with a time of 18:37.6 while fellow sophomore Mariah Zavala (Amphitheater HS) placed 11th at 19:24.4. Sophomore Elizabeth Deaton (Cienega HS) took 18th at 19:42.3 and sophomore Desire Montenegro (Sunnyside HS) finished 23rd at 19:52.2. Freshman Samantha Felzien crossed the finish line in 24th place at 19:54.9.
"Kelsey Montano ran very well today and has improved all season," Wenneborg said. "I believe she can contend for All-American honors by the end of the season.
"Both the men's and women's teams had a breakthrough day. Five women going under 20 minutes for the 5K is an enormous hurdle to clear."
The Aztecs will compete in the Mt. SAC CC Invitational in Walnut, CA on Friday. The men's race will be at 10:00 a.m. and the women's race will follow at 10:45 a.m.
For complete results of the Mesa CC Thunderbird Classic, visit the wingfootfinish website and scroll down to the college results:
Photo by Raymond Suarez/Pima Community College
