The Inland Empire Athletic Conference (IEAC) is pleased to announce that Sara Jaquez, a sophomore cross-country runner from San Bernardino Valley College (SBVC), has been selected as the IEAC Athlete of the Month for September.

Jaquez started the 2024 cross country season with two outstanding performances. In her first meet of the season at the Golden West Invitational at Central Park in Huntington Beach, Jaquez clocked 20:23 for 5km to place 7th in a field of 141 community college runners from throughout Southern California.

In her next trip to the start line, Jaquez competed in the Cougar Challenge 6KM hosted by Cal State San Marcos. Competing against NCAA division 1 and 2 athletes as well as three of the best community colleges in the nation in Salt Lake Community College, San Diego Mesa and Mt. SAC, Jaquez ran a fabulous race in her first effort over 6KM by finishing 44th in 23:00.5 out of 157 finishers. Jaquez was the 4th California Community College Athletic Association finisher.

"Sara is super talented with a lot of desire and determination to be the best runner she can be. She has progressed steadily over the last year at Valley and she has a goal of finishing in the top 14 to make All American at the state meet in November," said her coach Ricardo Sanchez.