SAN MARCOS, Calif. - Cal State East Bay men's cross country raced to a commendable sixth-place finish among 13 scoring teams at the Cougar Challenge on Saturday morning. The Pioneers showcased their prowess on the challenging 8k course at Mangrum Track & Field on the Cal State San Marcos campus, finishing third among six NCAA Division II teams.

• Leading the charge for the Pioneers was senior Cole McKain, who blazed across the finish line in 24 minutes, 57.4 seconds. McKain's blistering pace not only secured him an impressive 18th place overall among 155 runners, but also shattered his previous personal record set at the 2021 CCAA Cross Country Championships. 
• Among the Pioneers shortly behind McKain was Matthew Morgan, who claimed 27th place with a solid time of 25:13.6. Morgan's performance was crucial in solidifying the team's position in the top half of the field.
• Jose Garcia reached a personal 8k record, clocking in at an impressive 25:52.1. 
• Several other Cal State East Bay runners showed marked improvement from last week's meet including Yosef Amaha (26:34.4), Logan Phulps (26:41.1), Ian Mead (27:43.5) and Kyle Byrne (28:35.8)

Salt Lake Community College dominated the field, claiming an astounding eight of the top ten finishes in the 8k race to win the team scoring. The individual crown went to JaQuavious Harris of SLCC, who crossed the finish line in 23:59.0. 

In the NCAA Division II ranks, Sankalp Shastri from host team Cal State San Marcos turned heads with a fourth-place overall finish of 24:21.1.

The Pioneers will now set their sights on the SF State Invitational. Mark your calendars for Friday, October 11 when the Pioneers will take on the scenic course at Golden Gate Park's Speedway Meadow in San Francisco. The men's 8k race is scheduled to begin at 4:15 p.m.