Live Results // Notes (PDF) // Season Preview Video

IRVINE, Calif. - The UC Irvine women's cross country team is set to open the 2018 campaign at Cal State Fullerton's Mark Covert Classic on Saturday, Sept. 1. The women's Division I 5K race is slated for a 9:15 a.m. start at Carbon Canyon Regional Park in Brea.

STORYLINES
• UC Irvine welcomes back 12 letterwinners from last year's team that finished eighth at the Big West Championships.
• Included in that group are juniors Anastasia Karnaze and Brenda Dorantes, who were UCI's top-two runners in 2017.
• The 'Eaters have added depth to their roster with an incoming group of five student-athletes.
• The Anteaters' best team finish from 2017 came at The Master's University Invitational where they took second.
• With a deeper and stronger team this year, UC Irvine will be looking to move up the Big West standings in October.
 
THE RETURNERS
• Junior Anastasia Karnaze was UC Irvine's top finisher in five of six races last year.
• She led the way at both the Big West Championships and NCAA West Regional.
• Karnaze owned UCI's top times in the 5K (18:13.1) and 6K (21:59.2).
• Junior Brenda Dorantes was the Anteaters' No. 2 runner at last year's conference meet with a season-best 22:28.8.
• Senior Megan Mirkhanian looks to build on a solid 2017 season in which she competed in every meet.
• The 'Eaters also welcome back Keely Boyd, Olympia Martinez, Hallie Pullum, Amy Flores and Amy Sovinsky.
 
THE NEWCOMERS
• Mariah Theologidy is a junior transfer from Antelope Valley College.
• She was a two-time California Community College State Cross Country Championship qualifier.
• Hannah Chau was a three-time CIF State qualifier at Justin-Siena High School in Napa, Calif.
• She was named the 2017-18 Napa Valley Register Female Athlete of the Year.
• Natalie Ewe claimed the 2017 CIF-San Francisco Section title and was a four-time CIF State qualifier.
• Perla Aguilar (San Pedro HS) was a league champion and advanced to the CIF State meet twice in her prep career.
 
CHAMPIONSHIP PREP
• UC Irvine will get an early look at both the Big West Championship and NCAA West Regional courses this year.
• The 'Eaters are set to compete at Carbon Canyon Park (Big West) this Saturday at the Mark Covert Classic.
• They will also make their way to Haggin Oaks Golf Complex (NCAA) for the Capital Cross Challenge on Sept. 29.
 
QUOTING COACH EVANS
On the team: "This is going to be a new team, and they have come together with new goals. Our conference is tough, but I think our women have the competitive fire and the depth to really get up and compete with some teams that we haven't been with the past couple years."
 
On the schedule: "We are very excited about our schedule this year. It allows our athletes to not only race the championship courses, but to also test themselves against some of the top teams and individuals in the region."
 
UP NEXT
• UCI is back in action on Saturday, Sept. 15, when it travels to the Inland Empire for the UC Riverside Invitational.