Women's Cross Country: Olea Tabbed as 5CTCA Runner of the Week

SALINAS, Calif. - With the State Preview Meet in Fresno last week, contenders for the overall title emerged from both regions and in the second week of meets in Southern California, there was a repeat winner emerging for a resurgent program. Two individuals from the north and two from the south were honored as the 5CTCA Runners of the Week. | ORIGINAL RELEASE

Itandehui Olea of Allan Hancock College has helped the Bulldogs emerge as one of the best programs in not just the Western States Conference, but also in Southern California. Olea helped the women's team at AHC claim their second consecutive race title after taking the individual victory at the Moorpark Invitational. She held off Marbella Flores of East L.A. College, 19:28 to 19:46. 

San Diego Mesa has reloaded in the front with Jyden Schmid taking on the lead role for the Olympians. He was the State Preview Meet winner in Fresno in 20:18, one of the fastest times in recent memory and good for the all-time list to start the year. Despite trailing through half the race, Schmid would close the best for the 10-second victory. His overall win paced the Olympians to a decisive team victory and one of the fastest team times on the Woodward Park course.

Hartnell College sophomore Andrea Villegas returns to competition after her All-State year in 2021 and is now a potential contender for the overall women's title in 2023. Villegas won the Fresno Invitational by 34 seconds in 18:36 over the 5k championship course. She was also over one minute ahead of the next Northern California competitor. Villegas will look to become the Panthers' second-ever regional winner come November. Villegas was the state runner-up in the 10,000m in the spring championship.

Mateo Delgadillo of American River College debuted on the Woodward Park course in 20:38 to place third overall, just 10 seconds behind last week's ROTW Daniel Gonzalez of San Joaquin Delta College. Delgadillo gives the Beavers a contender for the Northern California individual title. With the pair both competing in the Big 8 Conference, they should face each other for three consecutive championship meets later this fall.