Injuries limited Trad Berti to only one cross country race and one track and field meet last season. But that did not stop the sophomore from Paso Robles (Paso Robles High School) from thinking big heading into his first 2019 event—Friday evening's UC Davis Stump Invitational at Wildhorse Golf Club in Davis.
As he looked to his right and left at the starting line, he saw the jerseys from Division I programs California, UC Davis, St. Mary's, and the University of San Francisco. As it turned out, his biggest challenge for the title would come from the teammates that stood with him in cardinal and white.
On a hot and sunny day, with temperatures over 90 degrees, Berti beat teammate Wyatt Baxter to the finish line by five second to claim his first collegiate cross country title, besting a field of 66 on his way to Wildcat of the Week honors.
The top three finishers and seven of the first 10 were Wildcats as they ran away with the team title, drubbing runner-up UC Davis (ranked No. 15 among Division I programs in the West Region) 74-18.
Berti's finishing time of 24:58.83 over the eight-kilometer layout was 21.7 seconds faster than the first Division I athlete across the line.
Berti and the Wildcats will next be in action on September 28 at the Capital Cross Challenge, hosted by Sacramento State, and Haggin Oaks Golf Club.
