'Eaters Travel to Pacific Northwest for Charles Bowles Invitational

Saturday, October 5

Salem, Ore. / Bush's Pasture Park

9:30 AM

UC Irvine

Charles Bowles Invitational

cameron-smith-mxc-2024-charles-bowles-invite-preview

'Eaters Travel to Pacific Northwest for Charles Bowles Invitational

October 04, 2024 | Men's Cross Country

Live Results Meet Notes

Charles Bowles Invitational
Date: Saturday, Oct. 5
Event: Men's 8K
Time: 9:30 a.m. (PDT)
Location: McCulloch Stadium & Bush Park - Salem, Ore.

IRVINE, Calif. - The UC Irvine men's cross country team travels to Salem, Oregon, for the Charles Bowles Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 5. The 8K race is slated for a 9:30 a.m. start at McCulloch Stadium and Bush Park.

QUICK HITS
• UC Irvine entered the USTFCCCA West Region Rankings at No. 15.
• It is the first time the Anteaters have been featured in the top-15 since 2012.
• Four current 'Eaters rank among the top-10 in 8K program history.
• Two weeks ago, redshirt freshman Juan Chantaca ran a personal-record 23:51.4, which is third on UCI's all-time list.
• The Anteaters have a veteran squad with nine returners, including six seniors.

REGIONAL RANKINGS
UC Irvine has made its way into the USTFCCCA Division I West Region Rankings, coming in at No. 15 in the latest poll released on Sept. 30. It is the first time the Anteaters have been featured among the top-15 in the West since 2012. They are ahead of UCLA (Big 10), Arizona (Big 12) and Arizona State (Big 12).

LAST TIME OUT
Juan Chantaca ran the third-fastest 8K in program history to lead UC Irvine at the UC Riverside Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 21. Chantaca covered the UCR Agricultural Operations Course, which is the home of the 2024 Big West Championships, in 23:51.4. He finished 17th in a field of 247, and etched his name in the school record books behind teammate Zeid Hussain and Ricky Barnes, who are tied for first in program history (23:47.0). Cameron Smith was next across the line for the Anteaters, clocking in at 24:18.8. His time ranks ninth among UCI's all-time leaders. He was followed by Joshua Schuld (24:43.3), Hussain (24:45.0), Jacob Bustamante (24:48.4) and Juan Sanchez (24:53.8). Omar Reyes (25:06.2), Caleb McDaniel (25:31.1), Jimmy Markowicz (25:44.0) and AJ Sager (25:53.7) also notched season bests.

MAKING A STATEMENT
Redshirt freshman Juan Chantaca led the Anteaters in each of their first two races with a pair of top-20 showings. In his first collegiate cross country race, Chantaca claimed runner-up honors after completing the Irvine Invitational 8K course at the Great Park in 25:10.9. He was named the Big West Men's Cross Country Athlete of the Week for his effort. Two weeks later in Riverside, Chantaca improved his personal best by over a minute as he clocked the third-fastest time in program history at 23:51.4.

LAST YEAR, BEST YEAR
Of UC Irvine's nine returners, six are either fourth or fifth year seniors. The group has seen individual success with Zeid Hussain tying the 8K school record at 23:47.0, and Joshua Schuld running the No. 6 time in program history as sophomores in 2022. Schuld also owns the top 10K time among this year's squad with a personal-best 30:35.3. Two weeks ago at the UC Riverside Invitational, Cameron Smith joined UCI's all-time top-10 in the 8K with a PR 24:18.8.

UP NEXT
UC Irvine returns to Riverside on Saturday, Oct. 19, for the Highlander Invitational. It will be the team's final tune-up before the Big West Championship (Nov. 2).