CERES, Calif. — The Stanislaus State cross country teams opened their 2025 season on a strong note Saturday evening at the Kim Duyst Twilight, hosted at River Oaks Golf Course. The No. 17 nationally ranked Warrior women captured the team title in the 6K race, while the men's team posted a seventh-place finish in a deep 8K field led by two top-20 performances.

Women's Recap
The No. 17 nationally ranked Stanislaus State women's cross country team made headlines at the Kim Duyst Twilight Invitational, capturing the team title with a total time of 1:47:25 and an average of 21:29 per runner. The Warriors edged out Chico State, the preseason No. 1 pick in the CCAA coaches' poll, by five points, proving their depth as all five scorers finished in the top 30. The win marks an early-season statement against one of the top Division II programs in the nation.

Even more impressively, Stan State outran four NCAA Division I schools: Sacramento State, UC Davis, Nevada, and California (Cal). Beating one D1 team is notable for a Division II program; beating four in a single race underscores the Warriors' national caliber. With this victory, Stan State not only validated its No. 17 ranking but positioned itself as a legitimate contender to rise even higher in the NCAA Division II national standings this fall.

Led by junior Annie Wild, who placed third overall in 21:02.7, the Stan State women earned a dominant victory with all five scorers placing in the top 30. The Warriors finished with a strong pack and totaled 75 points to secure the team title.  Rounding out the pack were Jacqueline Sanchez-Silva who placed10th (21:22.1), followed closely by Bela Moreno in 11th (21:25.9), while freshmen Izzy Soto (27th, 21:47.0) and Stevie Holguin (29th, 21:48.2) rounded out the scoring five.

Men's Recap
On the men's side, Jackson Oliveira led the Warriors with a 10th-place finish in the 8K race, clocking 23:54.7. Fellow sophomore Mason Oliveira crossed 16th in 24:21.7, giving Stanislaus two top-20 finishers.

Freshman Jonathan Hupman placed 49th (25:13.8), with first-years Quentin Clarke (82nd, 25:45.2) and Patricio Kearney (94th, 25:56.2) completing the top five. The Warriors scored 184 points and were the second-highest Division II team in the field, finishing behind only Chico State (third overall). Stan State topped Sacramento State, Nevada, and the University of San Francisco.

Stan State, ranked No. 6 in the West Region, averaged 25:02.3 across its scoring five in the season debut.
Up Next
Both Warrior squads will return to action in two weeks at the UC Riverside Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 27, at the Ag Ops Cross Country Course in Riverside, Calif.
 

Men's Recap
On the men's side, Jackson Oliveira led the Warriors with a tenth-place finish in the 8K race, clocking 23:54.7. Fellow sophomore Mason Oliveira crossed 16th in 24:21.7, giving Stanislaus two top-20 finishers.

Freshman Jonathan Hupman placed 49th (25:13.8), with first-years Quentin Clarke (82nd, 25:45.2) and Patricio Kearney (94th, 25:56.2) completing the top five. The Warriors scored 184 points and were the second-highest Division II team in the field, finishing behind only Chico State (3rd overall).

Stan State, ranked No. 6 in the West Region, averaged 25:02.3 across its scoring five in the season debut.

Up Next
Both Warrior squads will return to action in two weeks at the UC Riverside Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 27, at the Ag Ops Cross Country Course in Riverside, Calif.