Results

SACRAMENTO - The UC Irvine men's cross country team finished ninth out of 26 teams Saturday at the Capital Cross Challenge in Sacramento.
 
The Anteaters were also sixth among a group of 12 NCAA Division I schools, placing ahead of New Mexico State, CSUN, UC Davis, Cal, Santa Clara and Fresno State.
 
Junior Sam Ayala led the 'Eaters in his season debut, coming in 32nd out of 266 overall competitors. He covered the 8000-meter course at Haggin Oaks Golf Complex in a personal-record 25:10.8. Ayala shaved over 20 seconds off his previous best.

"We are excited to have Sam back," distance coach Chris Evans said. "He really stepped up today and had a great race. Sebastian and Kit both had good races as well. We traveled up here to get a look at the regional course and now we know what changes we have to make before we race here again in November."
 
Junior Hector Garcia, who had been UCI's top finisher in each of the last four meets, clocked in at 25:30.5 to place 59th overall.

Freshman Sebastian Bautista and sophomore Kit Carter were the Anteaters' third and fourth runners, respectively. Both registered season bests as Bautista crossed the finish line in 26:00.8 (96th) and Carter came in at 26:03.7 (100th).
 
Senior Jon Rodriguez rounded out UC Irvine's scorers with a time of 26:19.1 (127th).
 
Senior Ashton Garcia (26:39.7), freshman Gabriel Ramirez (26:42.5) and senior Jhamani Long (27:16.1) also competed in their third 8K of the season.
 
UC Irvine returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 13, when it heads to Riverside for the Highlander Challenge.

 
CAPITAL CROSS CHALLENGE
Saturday, Sept. 29
Haggin Oaks Golf Complex – Sacramento, Calif.
 
Men's 8K Team Results (22 Teams)
1. Chico State - 42
2. Pepperdine - 105
3. Pomona-Pitzer - 134
4. Loyola Marymount - 136
5. Cal Poly Pomona - 162
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9. UC Irvine - 320
 
UC Irvine's Individual 8K Results (Out of 266 Runners)
32. Sam Ayala (25:10.8)
59. Hector Garcia (25:30.5)
96. Sebastian Bautista (26:00.8)
100. Kit Carter (26:03.7)
127. Jon Rodriguez (26:19.1)
156. Ashton Garcia (26:39.7)
159. Gabriel Ramirez (26:42.5)
190. Jhamani Long (27:16.1)