SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Hawai'i Pacific University men finished fifth and the women placed seventh on Friday at the Cal State San Marcos Cougar Challenge at Walnut Grove Park.
 
The Sharks were again led by senior Lukas Motschmann on the men's side and junior Robyn Kaltenbrunn on the women's.
 
Running in a six-kilometer race for the first time this season, Kaltenbrunn of Magdeburg, Germany,  recorded a time of 22:02.1 to finish 18th among the 75 contestants.
 
Senior Brooke Gottmeier of Fairbanks, Alaska/West Valley was the second HPU runner across the line, placing 47th in 23:27.3, just ahead of sophomore Karen Corona Perez of Ocracoke, N.C., who was 50th in a time of 23:52.1 as the Sharks ran in a pack. Freshman McKay Guckenberg of Eureka, Mont./Lincoln County was 54th in 24:09.4, with senior Jasmine Napenas of Wheatland, Calif./Wheatland Union 56th in 24:15.6. Senior Janice Hata of Kaneohe, Hawai'i/Castle turned in a 25:21.5 to complete the Sharks run.
 
The HPU women scored 188 points to finish seventh among the seven teams. Cal State San Bernadino was sixth with 156 points. UC San Diego won the event with 49 points, edging host Cal State San Marcos who collected 50 points, with Queens (N.C.) third with 75 points.
 
Queen's Hannah Wolkenhauer won the individual title with a 21:08.4, beating UCSD's Madalyne Coney by four seconds.
 
Running an eight-kilometer course, Motschmann of Magdeburg, Germany, placed 13th for HPU with a time of 24:50.6. Freshman Jona Bodirsky of Muhlhausen, Germany, placed 24th clocking a 25:27.8.
 
Senior transfer Christian Duran of Whittier, Calif./LaSerna via Mount Olive, posted a 26:39.4 for 39th, with junior Jason Flores of Beaumont, Calif./Beaumont, across in 27:32.2 for 44th. Sophomore David Rutto of Eldoret, Kenya finished 49th in 28:17.7 to wrap up the scoring for HPU.
 
The Sharks placed fifth with 144 points, beating Azusa Pacific in sixth with 163 points. Host Cal State San Marcos won the team event with 33 points, followed by Queens with 47 and UCSD with 61.
 
UCSD's Samuel Blake won the individual honors in a time of 24:11.0, edging Queen's Anthony Raftis by 0.9 seconds.
 
The Sharks are racing again on Saturday, Sept. 21, when they visit Kapiolani Park to take part in the Chaminade Invitational starting at 7 a.m.