NIPOMO, Calif. - Junior Sameen Andar led UC Irvine with a top-10 individual finish at the 2023 Big West Cross Country Championships Friday morning at Blacklake Golf Resort.
 
Andar completed the 6K championship course in 21:03.2 to place ninth overall. Andar made her way onto the podium as an all-conference performer for the second year in a row.
 
Junior Malia Gay added a top-20 showing as she passed 11 runners over the final 1K to come in 19th with a time of 21:45.3. Junior Anna Vogtmann wasn't far behind in 21st at 21:48.9.
 
Freshman Kaia Schmidt had a strong outing in her Big West debut, crossing the finish line in 21:49.8 (23rd).
 
Junior Montgomery Allison (22:20.0), sophomore Makena Castillo (22:30.7) and junior Olivia Liuson (22:35.6) rounded out UCI's top seven runners.
 
As a team, the 'Eaters were fifth with 110 points. Host Cal Poly defended its title with 39 points, while UC Davis' Sierra Atkins was the individual champion at 19:52.5.
 
UC Irvine will be back in action at the NCAA West Regional in Sacramento on Friday, Nov. 10.