CSUN Cross Country Hit Record Book Performances at 2026 Big West Championships

Saturday, October 31

Riverside, Calif.

California State University at Northridge

Big West Championship

Complete Results

Photo by: Big West

10/31/2026 12:49:00 PM | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country

RIVERSIDE, Calif. --- The CSUN men's and women's cross country teams wrapped up competition at the Big West Championships Saturday morning at the UCR Ag/Ops Cross Country Course. The Matador men placed eighth overall in the 8K race, while the women finished 10th in the 6K competition. Steven Valadez led the Matador men, finishing with the third fastest 8K time in school history. Lilit Arakelyan led the Matador women in the 6K race.

HOW IT HAPPENED
MEN
The CSUN men finished eighth overall with 221 points. California Baptist captured the team championship with 28 points, followed by Utah Valley with 33 points and Cal Poly with 91.

Valadez led the Matadors, placing 30th overall with a time of 24:18.0, right behind Sasha Vujic and Camilo Torres for the third fastest time in CSUN history.
Thomas Achten was next across the finish line, taking 35th place in 24:25.4, that mark was good for the fourth fastest 8K time in school history.

Elijah Stenberg finished 55th overall with a time of 24:48.5, while Luis Torres Orrala placed 57th in 24:50.1. Erick Leal rounded out CSUN's top five, finishing 60th with a time of 24:53.7.

Adam Divinity finished 80th overall in 25:30.7, followed by Darrick Jacob in 82nd place with a time of 25:35.6. Diego Rodriguez (88th, 25:46.0) and Raul Verges (100th, 26:59.0) also competed for the Matadors.

WOMEN
The CSUN women finished 10th overall with 286 points. Utah Valley claimed the team championship with 44 points, followed by California Baptist (63) and Cal Poly (77).
Lilit Arakelyan paced the Matadors, finishing 19th overall with a time of 20:31.8.

Nadia Munoz ran a personal best and was the next CSUN runner to cross the finish line, placing 64th in 21:37.8. That time etched Munoz in the record books as well, she now holds the ninth fastest 6K time in Matador history.

Brianna Torres finished 79th overall with a time of 21:56.0, while Keona Mataalli took 88th place in 22:17.1. Citlaly Ruiz rounded out the Matadors' top five, finishing 95th in 23:20.0.

Zyanya Torres placed 97th overall with a time of 23:29.8, while Ailani Valiente finished 99th in 23:36.3.

ACCORDING TO COACH JASON ZARB-COUSIN
"It was a solid day for both teams and I am really proud of how we performed across the board. We are making progress improving in a conference that only got tougher with some elite distance running programs being added into the mix. On the men's side, we had several personal best performances and top to bottom as a team, I felt like we had the most complete performance of the year. The women also had amazing individual performances helping to accomplish our goal to be top 10 in the Big West. We have grown a lot this year and it showed today. For us, it is all about trusting the process and taking steps to get better each day. These men and women are figuring out what it takes to be great and I am excited for the future. Now, we will get to work preparing for Regionals in 2 weeks."

UP NEXT
CSUN returns to competition at the NCAA West Regionals at Haggin Oaks Golf Complex in Sacramento, Calif. on Nov. 13.