The UC Irvine men's cross country team returns with high expectations in 2023. The Anteaters have a group of eight juniors who all went through the ups and downs of the last two seasons together. They have adjusted to the collegiate distances and gained valuable postseason experience. Now, that group is ready to lead the 'Eaters back to the top of the Big West.  
 
"The men are aiming for a top-three finish at the Big West Championships and are trying to crack the top-15 in the West Region," said UCI distance coach Casey Kear. "The whole group is back, and we've added a few new people so we feel like we are one of the best three teams in the conference, we just need to run our best races on that day."
 
Below are five things to know before the season gets underway at the Big West Preview meet in Nipomo, California, next Friday, Sept. 1.
 
 
SEASON THREE
The Anteaters have a core group of eight returning letterwinners. All eight are juniors eligibility-wise, having trained and competed together since the 2021 cross country season. The group has seen tremendous growth over the last two years and are ready to take the next step in leading UCI cross country back to prominence in The Big West.
 
"That group has been the staple of our program the last two years and now they come in with the knowledge of what a Big West Championship and NCAA Regional look like," Kear said. "They have goals to match some bigger expectations."
 
HUNGRY FOR MORE
In 2022, junior Lukas Amare was the first 'Eater to earn All-Big West honors in five years. Amare finished seventh at the conference championships in an 8K personal-record 23:56.0, which ranks third in program history. He continued to run at an elite level at the NCAA West Regional where he shattered his 10K PR at 29:51.3. That mark is tied for third among UCI's all-time leaders, making him the first Anteater to enter the program's top-10 at that distance since 1987. Amare, who was among UC Irvine's top-two finishers in every meet last year, also picked up his first collegiate cross country victory at the Anteater Opener 6K.
 
"Lukas was by far our most consistent athlete all year long," Kear said of Amare's sophomore campaign. "We had some guys who maybe beat him here or there, but he was always in our top-two and was solid every time he stepped up to the line. I know he has big goals for this fall. He won't be satisfied with finishing seventh in the Big West again; he wants to be in the top three and compete for a championship."
 
RIDING THE MOMENTUM
In addition to Amare, UC Irvine has a handful of returners who have their sights set on an All-Big West finish. Zeid Hussain, Joshua Schuld, Jacob Bustamante and Cameron Smith are all looking to build off breakthrough moments from last year. In cross country, Hussain tied the 8K school record with a personal-best 23:47.0 at the Bronco Invitational. Schuld also placed among the top-25 at the conference meet and ran the sixth-fastest 8K in school history at the UCR Invitational (24:15.0). On the track, Bustamante finished fourth in the 10,000-meter at the Big West Championships, while Smith scored in the steeplechase and 5000m. Earlier in the season, Smith established a personal-record 8:58.24 in the steeple at the Bryan Clay Invitational to crack the program's all-time top-10. Schuld (steeple) and Hussain (10K) were also conference scorers.
 
"Zeid is back after breaking the 8K school record last year," Kear stated. "When he's on, he's as good as anybody we have. Jacob Bustamante was fourth in the (Big West) 10K outdoors, which was a huge breakthrough for him. Joshua Schuld made big steps outdoors in the steeple, 1500m and 5K, and Cameron Smith also cracked the top-10 in the steeplechase. We have five really solid guys, so how good we're going to be will depend on which of the freshmen are ready to step up."
 
THE ROOKIES
UC Irvine has three incoming freshmen with impressive high school credentials. Juan Chantaca was a CIF State Championship qualifier in both cross country and track at San Clemente High School. Jimmy Markowicz, who prepped at St. Augustine High School in San Diego, was the 2022 Eastern League cross country champion, while he also won three league titles in the 1600m on the track. Caleb McDaniel was Mission Viejo High School's Distance Athlete of the Year after finishing second at the Sea View League Finals, sixth at the CIF-Southern Section Division Finals and advancing to the CIF State Championships.
 
"We have three freshmen coming in who all have a chance to make an impact right away," Kear said. "The 8K and 10K are a tough transition for freshmen but these guys will definitely give us more depth than we've had the last couple years."
 
STARTING LINE
UC Irvine's 2023 season gets underway on Friday, Sept. 1, at the Big West Preview. The meet, which is hosted by Cal Poly, will give the Anteaters an early look at the Big West Championship course at Blacklake Golf Resort in Nipomo, California. The 'Eaters then make their way to the Inland Empire for the UCR Invitational (Sept. 16). After a four-week break from competition, UCI travels to Santa Clara for its second consecutive appearance in the Bronco Invitational (Oct. 14). A few individuals will stay local for the Titan Invitational in Fullerton before the Anteaters head up the coast for the Big West Championships on Friday, Oct. 27. The 'Eaters continue their postseason at the NCAA West Regional in Sacramento on Nov. 10 with qualifying teams and individuals punching their ticket to Charlottesville, Virginia, for the NCAA Championships on Nov. 18.