The Cerro Coso Cross Country team has returned to the college to restablish itself as a program that reflects the tremendous running community of the Indian Wells Valley. Although the program is in its infancy, the first two meets of the 2022 fall have given Cerro Coso much to celberate by way of freshman runner, Christian Schultz. As a result of these two meets, Schultz has won both in convincing fashion with no signs of slowing down this fall. Most recently, Schultz set a course record at a marque fall event, the Mt. SAC Invitational. You can read more about this accomplishment in the article below, credit to DyeStat:
By Landon Negri for DyeStat
WALNUT – Christian Schultz doesn't speak like someone who likes, or even craves, attention. But his performances speak otherwise.
Schultz followed up a big win Sept. 23 in the SoCal Preview meet with an even more eye-popping run Friday morning in the Community College Division of the 74th Mt. San Antonio College Invitational.
The unassuming 24-year old obliterated the 4-mile course record and won the men's race by more than two minutes by clocking 19 minutes, 16.1 seconds.
Mt. SAC swept the other top spots, with sophomore Hannah Brown winning the women's 3-mile race in 18:14.5. The men and women claimed team victories for the host Mounties.
Schultz bolted to an immediate lead, and after a mile and a half was already ahead by 30 seconds. He continued building on that with a lead so large that by the time he was at the bottom of the second switchbacks, the top remaining runners were still making their way up.
His time bested the previous 4-mile course record of 19:52 set by El Camino College's David Cardona in 2010.
"I don't have much of a kick, or too much 800-meter speed," Schultz said, "so I just wanted to go at a sustainable pace for myself. I knew that just meant going out and maintaining as strong of a run as I could.
"I'm pretty good with pacing," he added later. "I'm nervous most of the time, and I always feel like I'm just going to crash at the end or something, and everyone's going to outkick me. But I just tried my best."
Schultz is originally from Ridgecrest and ran for Burroughs High School, though not at the elite level he's at now. He has helped Cerro Coso re-establish a program this year "just for fun," and says he's just a guy who has been training hard on his own for several years.
"It's pretty lonesome out in the desert," he said.
But he's certainly gaining notice, even in larger population centers.
Schultz won the San Diego Holiday Half Marathon in December in 1:03:21.66. At the SoCal Preview Meet at Kern County Soccer Park, near Bakersfield, he outdueled Mt. SAC's Jesse Alvarado to win in 19:27.2.
And then Friday.
"I've been training a lot the last two years," Schultz said, relying on a lot of trail running.
"I know I'm in pretty good shape, but I'm not familiar with the times, and I haven't run in cross country in years."
As Schultz ran away Friday, the race behind him was more competitive.
The trailing pack spread out after the first run up the switchbacks, yet came back together before the second time ascending. And Chaffey College sophomore Andrew Tafolla was the biggest benefactor, surging in the final mile to finish second in 21:20.2. Glendale Community College freshman Nicolas Diconti was third in 21:21.8.
