With four of the top seven runners at the Brubaker Invitational on Friday, the Cerritos College women's cross country team earned their second straight championship this season. The Falcons, ranked #4 in the state, concluded the meet with 39 team points and beat #5-seeded Riverside City College by 15 points. It was the final meet until the October 31 South Coast Conference Championships, which will take place at Hahamonga Park in Pasadena.

The overall champion of the 5K run, which took place at Irvine Park, was sophomore Ariel Melendez (pictured, left; St. Paul HS), who turned in a time of 19:13.8, which was four seconds ahead of second place Erika Gonzales of Southwestern College. The Falcons blocked three runners at the head of the pack to help them win the overall championship. Sophomore Stephanie Ruiz (Western HS) posted a fifth place time of 19:36,9, while freshman Marylu Pulido (Whittier HS) saw her time of 19:37.4 earn her a sixth place result. Coming in seventh place out of the 96 runners was freshman Maria Orosco (Katella HS) with a clocking of 19:40.3.

Cerritos had another pack of three runners finish consecutively, with sophomore Janet Salazar (Paramount HS) counting toward the team score with her 22nd overall place with a time of 20:31.8. Finishing next were freshman Stephanie Perea (Downey HS), who earned 23rd place in 20:34.0, while sophomore Jocelyn Orozco (Downey HS) posted a time of 20:41.2, good for 24th place.

Also running for the Falcons were Elsa Vazquez Vallin (Warren HS; 21:29.1; 37th place), Tiffany Hernandez (Warren HS; 22:)1.3; 45th place), Priscilla Melendez (El Rancho HS; 22:30.7; 49th place), Amisadai Roman (Irvine HS; 24:04.7; 69th place) and Irubi Ramirez (Warren HS; 24:58.6; 76th place).