COD had six runners participate in the third event of the 2023 season at Morley Field at Balboa Park in San Diego for the Coach Downey XC Classic, where Desert finished 6th with a team time of 2:39:10 on the 4-mile course.

Grabbing the top spot for Desert in San Diego was sophomore Emmanuel Lule (La Quinta H.S.) collecting a 10th place finish with a time of 23:57.2. Freshman Gabriel Hernandez (Indio Shadow Hills), dropped 40 seconds from his previous best, collecting a 26th place finish with a time of 30:18.1. Sophomore Hector Jimenez (Thermal Coachella H.S.), in his first race of the season, collected a 29th place finish with a time of 32:31.4. Freshman Joseph Ortega (Palm Springs Desert Learning Academy), also in his first race of the season, placed 32nd with a time of 35:26.9. Sophomore Matthew Cuanetl (Rancho Mirage H.S.) with his best time of season, dropping 1:22, finishing in 33th place with a time of 36:56.5. Freshman Daniel Burkett (Bermuda Dunes Desert Christian Academy) wrapped up the morning for the Roadrunners, finishing 34th place with a time of 41:46.1.

The next event for Desert is at the Chaffey Invitational at Chaffey College (Grigsby Field) in Rancho Cucamonga on October 7th at 10:30 a.m.

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For additional information, please contact the COD Sports Information Office at 760.423.6641.

Information provided by COD Sports Information. Photos courtesy of COD Men's Cross Country head coach D'Arcy Hlavin. Story by Samantha Miller.