SAN FRANCISCO---The No. 12 nationally ranked Stan State women's cross country team opened its 2026 season with a second-place finish Friday afternoon at the University of San Francisco Invitational at Hellman Hollow.

The Warriors, who are ranked second in the West Region by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), totaled 82 points in the women's 6K race and had five runners finish among the top 30. Stan State was the top non-Division I team in the field, finishing ahead of Division I programs California Baptist, California, Santa Clara, Stanford, UC Davis, Sacramento State, Pacific and San Jose State.

Host San Francisco captured the team title with 41 points. Stan State finished five points ahead of third-place California Baptist (87), 13 ahead of fourth-place California (95) and 56 ahead of fifth-place Santa Clara (138).

Stevie Holguin led the Warriors with a sixth-place finish in 21:00.2. She was the top non-Division I individual finisher in the race and came within 3.2 seconds of her collegiate-best 6K time of 20:57.0 from last season.  All-American Annie Wild was Stan State's second finisher, placing 12th overall in 21:10.5.

Kekaihulali Halpern made an impressive Stan State debut by finishing 15th in 21:13.1. The transfer from Saint Martin's was the 2025 GNAC Freshman of the Year, and Friday's time was 13.7 seconds faster than her previous collegiate-best 6K time of 21:26.8.  Freshman Natalie Arriaza also made her collegiate debut, finishing 24th overall in 21:29.8.

Izzy Soto rounded out the Warriors' five scorers with a 28th-place finish in 21:39.9. Soto earned All-CCAA First Team honors in cross country last season and was a USTFCCCA Second Team All-American as part of Stan State's indoor distance medley relay team.

Stan State placed all five of its scoring runners among the top 30 overall, including three in the top 15. Just 39.7 seconds separated Holguin and Soto.

Megan Silva was the Warriors' sixth finisher, placing 74th in 22:55.4, followed by Aubrey Webb in 80th at 23:04.4. Roseli Diaz placed 90th in 23:21.7, Sophie Benham was 91st in 23:22.3 and Risa Reynier finished 92nd in 23:25.4.
Demiree Dean finished 102nd in 23:58.6, Aubrey Lascano placed 104th in 24:01.4 and Elizabeth Christopher was 109th in 24:19.1.

Stanford's Julia Flynn won the individual title in 20:10.3, followed by Santa Clara's Milaina Almonte in 20:26.6 and California's Sophie Tau in 20:32.0.

STAN STATE FINISHERS
6. Stevie Holguin — 21:00.2
12. Annie Wild — 21:10.5
15. Kekaihulali Halpern — 21:13.1
24. Natalie Arriaza — 21:29.8
28. Izzy Soto — 21:39.9
74. Megan Silva — 22:55.4
80. Aubrey Webb — 23:04.4
90. Roseli Diaz — 23:21.7
91. Sophie Benham — 23:22.3
92. Risa Reynier — 23:25.4
102. Demiree Dean — 23:58.6
104. Aubrey Lascano — 24:01.4
109. Elizabeth Christopher — 24:19.1

UP NEXT: Stan State will return home to host the Kim Duyst Twilight on Saturday, Sept. 12, at River Oaks Golf Course in Ceres. The women's 6K race is scheduled for 9 p.m.