Big West Championships
Date: Saturday, Oct. 29
Event: 6K
Time: 8:30 a.m.
Location: UCR Ag/Ops Course - Riverside, Calif.

IRVINE, Calif. - The UC Irvine women's cross country team will make its way to Riverside for the Big West Championships on Saturday, Oct. 29. The 6,000-meter race is scheduled for an 8:30 a.m. start at the UCR Ag/Ops Course and will be aired on ESPN+.

Nine Anteaters are entered in the championship meet - Sameen Andar, Hannah Chau, Malia Gay, Olivia Liuson, Evelin Meza, McKenna Paulson, Cathy Salazar-Gasca, Maggie Sczupak and Anna Vogtmann.
 
QUICK HITS
• The Anteaters broke two school records in four regular-season meets.
• Anna Vogtmann ran a 6K program-best 19:54.7 at the Bronco Invitational on Oct. 15.
• Vogtmann shattered the 14-year old standard of 20:12.5 that was established by Laura Olvera.
• Sameen Andar also edged teammate Hannah Chau's 4K record with a time of 14:10.4 at the Anteater Opener.
• Chau, a two-time All-Big West cross country performer, is still among the top-three in both the 4K (2nd) and 6K (3rd).
• The 'Eaters have posted four-straight top-six team finishes.
• UC Irvine was 15th in the USTFCCCA West Region rankings that were released on Sept. 26 and Oct. 3.
• The Anteaters have 21 returning letterwinners, while they added three newcomers.
 
RECORD BREAKERS
Sophomores Anna Vogtmann and Sameen Andar have both established school records this season. At the Bronco Invitational, Vogtmann shattered the 6K program record with a time of 19:54.7, surpassing the previous best of 20:12.5, which was set by four-time All-Big West performer Laura Olvera in 2008. Andar, meanwhile, broke the 4K school record at the Anteater Opener (Sept. 1) as her 44-second PR of 14:10.4 narrowly beat teammate Hannah Chau's mark of 14:11.0 from the 2021 season. Andar is also fourth in program history in the 6K (20:26.5). In addition, Olivia Liuson (14:41.3) and Maggie Sczupak (14:42.5) are eighth and ninth all-time in the 4K, and Evelin Meza ranks 10th in the 6K.
 
LAST TIME OUT
UC Irvine closed out the regular season last Friday at Cal State Fullerton's John Elders Titan Invite. The Anteaters finished fifth with 124 points. Sophomore Tea Akiaten led nine 'Eaters, coming in 12th overall and fifth among collegiate athletes. She completed the 5K course in a 37-second personal-record 18:01.8. Sophomore Diane Molina topped her 5K lifetime best, clocking in at 18:12.5 to place 17th overall and 10th collegiately. Next across the line for UCI was sophomore Montgomery Allison, who established a PR 18:21.3 (21st). Also in scoring position for the Anteaters were sophomores Hana Nip (18:50.0), Laura Yontz (19:05.0), Roxane Thomas (19:08.5) and Sophia Zago (19:33.3). Thomas' mark was a personal best, while Nip and Zago registered season bests.
 
PREVIOUSLY AT UCR
This Saturday will be UC Irvine's second time racing at the UCR Ag/Ops Course in 2022. Previously, the Anteaters finished fourth at the UCR Invitational on Sept. 17. They totaled 181 points to come in behind Arizona (140), Cal Poly (141) and Southern Utah (149), while finishing ahead of eight other Big West schools. Three 'Eaters placed among the top-20, led by Anna Vogtmann, who took seventh in a then 6K lifetime-best 20:24.6. Sameen Andar was also eighth with a one-minute PR of 20:26.5, and Hannah Chau took 19th in her season debut.
 
CHAMPIONSHIP GOALS
UC Irvine is coming off its best Big West and NCAA Regional finish since 2008. Last year, the Anteaters cracked the top-four at the conference meet and were just outside the West Region's top-15 as they came in five points behind UCLA to place 16th. With the core group of scorers back for another season together, the 'Eaters are primed to take the next step with their sights set on a Big West title and a top-10 regional finish.
 
UP NEXT
The Anteaters will travel to Seattle, Washington, for the NCAA West Regional on Friday, Nov. 11.