at The Master's University XC Invitational
Date: Saturday, Sept. 30
Event: Men's Collegiate 8K
Time: 7:45 a.m. (PDT)
Location: Central Park - Santa Clarita, Calif.
Meet Info

THIS WEEK
For the fifth year in a row, the UC Irvine men's cross country team will take part in the 6th annual Master's University XC Invitational (formerly known as the Mustang Challenge) as they head to Santa Clarita's Central Park on Saturday, Sept. 30. The 8000-meter race is slated for a 7:45 a.m. start.
 
Nine Anteaters are entered in Saturday's collegiate 8K - Sam Ayala, Kit Carter, Ashton Garcia, Hector Garcia, Andrew Graciano, Izzak Mireles, Jon Rodriguez, Ravi Sharma and Xavier Weaver.
 
MEET REWIND
The 'Eaters will be looking to defend their team title this weekend as they took first with 27 points at last year's Mustang Challenge. Izzak Mireles was UCI's second finisher, placing fifth overall in 25:12.4. Hector Garcia was also 15th (25:51.9), while Sam Ayala (25:59.4) and Ashton Garcia (26:01.9) were 21st and 24th, respectively.
 
AND WE'RE OFF
UC Irvine was eighth among NCAA Division I teams, and 11th overall, two weeks ago at the UC Riverside Invitational (Sept. 16). For the second time in as many meets, sophomore Hector Garcia was the Anteaters' top runner. He completed the 8000-meter race at the UCR Ag/Ops Course in a personal-record 24:43.0 to place 15th against NCAA Division I competition, and 25th out of 262 overall runners.
 
Senior Izzak Mireles crossed the finish line next for the 'Eaters, coming in 61st overall with a time of 25:16.2. Junior Ashton Garcia wasn't far behind in 72nd, clocking in at a career-best 25:20.4, while classmate Jon Rodriguez also notched a personal-best 25:36.5 (99th). Freshman Ravi Sharma (101st, 25:37.0), sophomore Sam Ayala (140th, 26:05.2) and junior Andrew Graciano (198th, 27:11.3) rounded out UCI's top seven.
 
On Sept. 1, UC Irvine kicked off the 2017 campaign by going 3-0 in dual-meet scoring at the Pepperdine Invitational. The Anteaters defeated CSUN, Long Beach State and Pepperdine. Hector Garcia won the individual title, finishing the 5000-meter course in 15:41.97.
 
RISING SOPHOMORE
The 'Eaters may have graduated their top runner from last year, but sophomore Hector Garcia has made a smooth transition into that role in 2017. Garcia has led the team in both races this season, opening the campaign with an individual victory at the Pepperdine Invitational (5K). He followed that performance with a top-10 showing among an elite field of NCAA Division I athletes at the UC Riverside 8K Invitational. The Los Angeles, Calif., native established personal records in both distances, completing the 5K in 15:41.97 and the 8K in 24:43.0.
 
BIG WEST PREP
In two weeks, the Anteaters will be back in Riverside for the Highlander Classic on Oct. 14. It is the second of three races at the UCR Ag/Ops Course this year as they also took part in the UCR Invitational (Sept. 16) and look ahead to the Big West Championships on Oct. 28. After being held in Kahuku, Hawaii, last season, the conference meet returns to the Inland Empire for the eighth time in the last 10 years.
 
"We have a lot of local races and we're really focusing on getting on that UC Riverside course where the conference championship will be held," distance coach Chris Evans said. "We're there for the UCR Invitational and Highlander Invitational, both of which give us a chance to race top-level competition and to get to know the course so when the Big West meet comes, we're ready with our game plan and how we are going to attack that course."