Gauchos run second at OEC Finals
The Saddleback women's cross country team finished in second place at the Orange Empire Conference Finals on Thursday in Mission Viejo. The Gauchos had five finishers in the top-20 to finish second for the second straight season.
Saddleback started the season down a couple of runners and within two months have made great strides. The Gauchos finished second by edging out Orange Coast, who finished third on Thursday.
Sara Fleming continued a great stretch drive to the season, finishing fourth overall out of 48 harriers in the race. Fleming crossed the finish line on the 5k layout in 20:01.1, for an average of 6:26.6-per-mile. She was a 1:35 behind Riverside's Sarah Hollis, who captured the gold medal in the event.
Fleming had a lot of help as Saddleback had four others in the top-20. Sierra Pilarski was ninth with a time of 20:21.6, followed by Hannah Badger (15th, 21:14.9), Megan Good (19th, 21:50.8) and Victoria Powers (20th, 21:55.0).
Fleming was named to the All-Orange Empire Conference First Team for her finish while Pilarski was named to the All-OEC Second Team.
Saddleback will run again at the Southern California Regional Finals next Friday in Santa Clarita.
TEAM RESULTS:
Riverside, 29
Saddleback, 67
Orange Coast, 75
Fullerton, 93
Santa Ana, 98
Golden West, 157
Santiago Canyon, DNQ