FULL RESULTS 

BILLINGS, Montana- It was a historic morning for Julissa Avila and the Fresno Pacific Women's Cross Country team Saturday morning as they competed in the DII NCAA West Region XC Championship. 

Julissa Avila led the way for the Sunbirds with an incredible 14th place finish, running a lifetime best of 21 minutes and 28 seconds.

Avila's 14th place finish qualified her for All-Region, while simultaneously etching her name in the Fresno Pacific Sunbirds history books as the highest place finish of any female student athlete in school history at the West Regionals. 

In addition to defeating her lifetime best, Avila crossed the line as the fourth place finisher from the PacWest, improving her 10th place finish two weeks ago at the PacWest Championships in Irvine. 

Four freshman finished behind Avila with Mattie Whipple leading them in 58th, followed by Gaby Ramirez in 75th, Alyana Chavez right behind her in 76th, and Avery Gibson rounding it out in 89th. 

The team earned an overall 12th place finish, tying the school record for the best regional place finish. 

"Our young women's squad represented us so well today, and our veteran Julissa Avila had a career day," remarked Cross Country program director Ray Winter.

"Julissa made history today as the highest regional finisher of any Sunbird female, and it certainly suggests what is coming for her in the spring on the track."

"The time gap between our #2 and #6 runners was only 40 seconds, which was a big source of their success, all season they have keyed off each other, worked together, and it worked again today." 


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