The Cerritos College women's cross country team was able to block their runners at the Mark Covert Classic to come in second place among non-Division I colleges on Saturday. The Falcons finished with 51 team points and trailed only Glendale College, who compiled 21 team points. There were 13 total colleges involved in the invitational. On Saturday, the team will travel to Fresno to run in the Fresno Invitational at Woodward Park, the same location the state championships will take place.

In the 5K race at Carbon Canyon Park in Brea, freshman Maria Orosco (Katella HS) was the first Cerritos runner to complete the course, as she crossed the finish line in 19:54.4 and placed eighth overall. Orosco (pictured, left), was followed by sophomore Ariel Melendez (St. Paul HS), who pulled ahead of a pack of six runners to finished in ninth place overall with a time of 20:10.6. Sophomore Stephanie Ruiz (Western HS) was the 16th runner to finish and turned in a time of 20:24.5, with freshman Joanna Bautista (Downey HS) in 19th at 20:52.0. The fifth runner to round out the team scoring was freshman Marylu Pulido (Whittier HS), who recorded a time of 21:07.0 to place 21st.

The Falcons had two other runners to take part in the running of the course and they consisted of sophomore Janet Salazar (Paramount HS), who took 24th in 21:33.4, while freshman Irubi Ramirez (Warren HS) finished in 24:51.0 and placed 51st.