IRVINE, Calif. - Senior Ariana Celis (Perris/Riverside CC) earned her second top 10 finish in as many meets this season to lead the CSUB cross country team to a ninth place finish at the Asics/UC Irvine Cross Country Invitational Saturday at the Anteater Recreation Center.

Celis navigated the 5K course in 17:57.4. It's the first time she's run a sub 18-minute 5K in her collegiate career.

"Across the board we were much better than our first meet," said CSUB Head Coach Robert Boyles. "Of course, Ariana continues to step up and get better and better. But as a team, we also are getting better. We improved our time by three minutes today."

The Roadrunners got a second sub 19-minute finish from Celis' former Riverside CC teammate Casey Glassy, who placed 40^th overall in 18:56.0. It marked the third time she's broken 19 minutes as a 'Runner.

Newcomer Vivian Rico made a strong debut for the 'Runners, finishing third on the team (73^rd overall) in 19:54.0. Junior Judith Mata (79^th, 19:59) and freshman Megan Thompson (82^nd, 20:03.1) rounded out the scoring for CSUB.

As a team, the 'Runners placed ninth overall with 203 points. Cal Poly took top honors with 42 points. Individually, Cal Poly's Kayleigh Tyerman finished first in 17:13.0.

CSUB returns home next week for a dual with Central Valley rival Fresno State on the CSUB campus course on Saturday, Sept. 18. It will be the first of back-to-back home meets for the 'Runners, who will host the Roadrunner Invitational on Sept. 25.