Asics/UCI Invitational at UC Irvine Saturday
September 07, 2011 | Women's Cross Country
IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine hosts the Asics/UCI Invitational Saturday (Sept. 10) at the Anteater Recreation Center (ARC) Fields.
A total of 790 men and women are entered. Four races are scheduled to accommodate the large field:
8:15 a.m. – Women's Race #1 (5,000 meters)
8:55 a.m. – Women's Race #2 (5,000 meters)
9:25 a.m. – Men's Race #1 (8,000 meters)
10:00 a.m. – Men's Race #2 (8,000 meters)
The UCI women's team will run in Race #2 Saturday at 8:55 a.m.
Vince O'Boyle is beginning his 30th year as head coach at UCI.
"The team was hit hard with the loss of Colleen Lillig (injury) for the season, but this fairly young team has come together and the runners put in a very good summer of training," O'Boyle said.
"I think the hard work they did will pay off and they will surprise a lot of teams this season."
Lillig was the Big West Conference Freshman of the Year last year when she finished 23rd at the league meet.
O'Boyle is looking to major contributions from senior Melissa Mead, redshirt juniors Chloe Fata and Maggie Newton-Neal, and freshman Kaycee Holcomb.
Mead placed 33rd in the Big West Cross Country Championships last season and Fata was 34th. Newton-Neal, who finished 40th in last fall's league cross country meet, finished second in the 800 meters at last May's Big West Track & Field Championships.
Holcomb, from Oak Park (Calif.) High School, finished sixth in the California State Cross Country Championships as a junior and senior.
The Anteaters travel to Mammoth for a week of training following Saturday's meet and return to competition Sept. 24 at the Stanford Invitational.
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