UC Riverside Invitational
Date: Saturday, Sept. 17
Event: Women's 6K / Women's 5K
Time: 7:15 a.m. / 8:25 a.m.
Location: UCR Ag/Ops Course

IRVINE, Calif. - The UC Irvine women's cross country team is back in action this weekend as it heads to the Inland Empire for the UC Riverside Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 17. The 6000m is set to get underway at 7:15 a.m., while the 5000m Open is scheduled for an 8:25 a.m. start. Both races will take place at the UCR Ag/Ops Course.
 
QUICK HITS
• Host UCI claimed runner-up honors at the Anteater Opener on Sept. 1.
• Sameen Andar led the way, coming in fourth in a 4K school-record 14:10.4.
• Andar narrowly topped teammate Hannah Chau's standard of 14:11.0 which was set at the same meet last year.
• Anna Vogtmann, Olivia Liuson and Maggie Sczupak also cracked UC Irvine's all-time top-10.
• The 'Eaters welcome back 21 returners, while adding three newcomers.
 
LAST TIME OUT
UC Irvine kicked off the 2022 campaign with a runner-up finish in the Anteater Opener at the ARC Fields on Thursday, Sept. 1. California Baptist, which was ranked sixth in the West Region, defended its title from a year ago. Sophomore Sameen Andar paced the 'Eaters as she was fourth in a school-record 14:10.4. She shaved nearly 44 seconds off her personal best from 2021. Sophomore Anna Vogtmann also clocked a personal-record 14:24.9 for an 11th-place showing. Her mark ranks fifth in program history. Sophomores Olivia Liuson (14:41.3) and Maggie Sczupak (14:42.5) weren't far behind in 13th and 14th, respectively. They both entered UCI's all-time top-10 with their 4K lifetime bests.
 
"I'm really pleased with the women's first effort of the year," UCI distance coach Casey Kear said following the season opener. "We were really competitive, had some really good packs and showed depth across the board. I feel like the group as a whole is significantly ahead of where we were at this time in 2021."
 
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.

BACK FOR MORE
UCI welcomes back 21 letterwinners, including its top two runners from a year ago. Leading the way will be fifth-year senior Hannah Chau, who did not compete in the Anteater Opener two weeks ago. Chau is a two-time All-Big West cross country performer after placing among the top-eight at the 2019 and 2021 conference meets. She set a then 4K school record at 14:11.0, while running the second-fastest 6K in program history (20:16.9) last season. Sophomore Anna Vogtmann is also looking to build off an impressive collegiate debut campaign in which she broke into the Anteaters' all-time top-10 in both the 4K (14:30.0) and 6K (20:52.0). In addition, she was among the top-15 at the Big West Championships as a true freshman.
 
NEW FACES
UC Irvine welcomes three newcomers in Malia Gay, Stella Knobbe and Elizabeth Melcher. Gay is a sophomore transfer who spent one season at Saint Mary's. She had a strong 'Eater debut, finishing 17th at the Anteater Opener with a 4K time of 14:48.1. Melcher (Livermore, Calif.) and Knobbe (Tustin, Calif.) are both true freshmen.
 
UP NEXT
The Anteaters will have a few weeks to dedicate toward training before returning to competition on Saturday, Oct. 15, when they make their way to Santa Clara for the Bronco Invitational.