Sept. 13, 2008

USC sophomore Sarah Cocco placed 12th to lead the Trojans to a sixth-place finish at the Aztec Invitational today (Sept. 13) in San Diego, Calif.

"We didn't have a great day today," said USC cross country coach Tom Walsh. "Hopefully the team learns from that and can respond with a better effort at Pepperdine in a few weeks."

Cocco, who won the 2007 Aztec Invitational with a time of 17:43, placed 12th today with a time of 18:17. The Trojans drew a tough starting position, beginning all the way to the right on a course that makes a quick 90 degree turn to the left which left the USC runners chasing the leaders right from the start.

USC's second finisher and 21st overall was sophomore Zsofia Erdelyi. Erdelyi ran the 5K course in 18:36. Junior Bridget Helgerson placed 30th with a time of 18:45.

Redshirt junior Christine Greer had a new 5K personal best, finishing 62nd with a time of 19:08. USC's fifth finisher and final scoring runner was junior Chanel Fischetti who placed 79th with a time of 19:32, one second off her time at the 2007 Aztec Invitational.

Freshmen Jessica Lundin (19:39) and Leah Gaeta (19:40) both shaved around nine seconds off their times in their collegiate debut last weekend at the UC Irvine Invitational. Sophomore Briana Bentley was USC's eighth runner with a time of 20:17.

The Women of Troy will next be in action on Oct. 4 at the Pepperdine Invitational in Malibu, Calif.