By Daniel Cross Sports Information Graduate Intern

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. --- California Baptist University started off another season of distance track competition Saturday at the Westmont Sunshine Invitational and is making its way toward national success.

CBU entered both the men's and women's side of the distance medley race (DMR), along with two men and two women in the 3000-meter race.

"I was really excited about how this meet went," said Head Coach Ben Gall. "This is a really good start to the season and I am very pleased with how our team performed."

The Lancer men ran a national A standard time 10:14.74 and won the event beating out old GSAC rivals Westmont (10:20.64) and Vanguard (10:54.54).

Mark Langworthy won the 3000-meter run with a time of 8:38.57, marking the first time since the program was reinstated that a Lancer has won this event and received the national A standard time. Lancer Sergio Rodriguez finished fifth with a time of 8:49.70.

There were 19 runners in the event.

Meanwhile, on the women's side, Jacquie Lutz finished fifth, with a time of 10:47.56 in the 3000-meter run. Kayla Beaudoin ran an 11:09.77 finishing 10^th. There were 14 runners in the event.

The CBU A team finished fifth with a time of 12:39.31, while the CBU B team finished sixth with a time of 13:20.41 in the women's DMR.

"I'm excited to see what next week brings and how our team goes out and performs," said Gall. "Today proved to be a good stepping stone into the rest of the season."

The Lancers compete again next week at the Azusa Pacific All-Comers, Saturday, Feb. 11.