Big West Championships
Date: Friday, Oct. 31
Event: 8K
Time: 7:30 a.m. HT / 10:30 a.m. PT
Location: Queen Kapi'olani Regional Park - Honolulu, O'ahu

IRVINE, Calif. - UC Irvine men's cross country makes the trek to Honolulu for the 2025 Big West Championships on Friday, Oct. 31. The men's 8K race is scheduled for a 7:30 a.m. HT/10:30 a.m. PT start at Queen Kapi'olani Regional Park.

STARTING LINE
• Juan Chantaca broke the 8K school record at the UCR Invite on Sept. 27.
• His time of 23:38.4 is tied for the third-fastest in The Big West this season.
• Chantaca won two Big West Athlete of the Week awards in 2025.
• UCI won the team and individual titles at the Vanguard Invitational (Sept. 5).
• The Anteaters' roster is comprised of four returners (no seniors) and three true freshmen.

BIG WEST REWIND
UC Irvine placed fourth at the 2024 Big West Cross Country Championships in Riverside. It was the Anteaters' best conference finish since 2016. Juan Chantaca covered the 8K course in 24:06.3 to lead the 'Eaters in 14th. Other returners who competed at the Big West meet last year are Omar Reyes, who came in 34th with a PR 24:44.9, and Jimmy Markowicz (25:48.7). 

LAST TIME OUT
UCI was last in action at the Bill Dellinger Invitational in Springfield, Oregon, on Oct. 10. The 'Eaters finished ninth in a competitive field that featured two teams ranked among the top-25 in the nation. Juan Chantaca was UC Irvine's top runner for the third-straight meet, completing the 8K course at Pine Ridge Golf Club in 24:37.07 (38th). Jimmy Markowicz was next across the line for the 'Eaters, clocking in at 25:24.63 (64th). Ziyad Abdallah wasn't far behind in 68th at 25:31.49. Mark McAleenan Jr. (26:09.50), Javin Schmitt (26:14.83), and Angel Cordero (27:00.94) rounded out the Anteaters' lineup.

RACKING UP THE AWARDS
Sophomore Juan Chantaca was named the Big West Men's Cross Country Athlete of the Week after two of his three races this season. Chantaca earned his second honor on Sept. 30 after breaking the 8K school record with a personal-best 23:38.4 at the UC Riverside Invitational. He notched his second-straight top-five showing with a fourth-place finish (out of 224). The San Clemente native was previously recognized following his first individual collegiate victory at the Vanguard Invitational (Sept. 5). Chantaca led wire-to-wire, clocking a meet-record 24:05.8 for a 35-second win. 

SEASON-OPENING WIN
UC Irvine took home both the team and individual titles at the season-opening Vanguard Invitational at Mason Regional Park in Irvine on Sept. 5. Five Anteaters placed among the top-10, led by Juan Chantaca, who was the individual champion with a meet-record 24:05.8. Ziyad Abdallah had an impressive collegiate debut, placing fourth in his first career 8K. Abdallah crossed the finish line in 24:57.4. Sophomore Jimmy Markowicz added a PR 25:01.7 to come in fifth, while freshman Mark McAleenan Jr. was sixth at 25:18.1. Sophomore Omar Reyes rounded out UCI's top-five in ninth with a time of 25:34.6.

UP NEXT
UCI will make its way to Haggin Oaks Golf Complex in Sacramento for the NCAA West Regional on Friday, Nov. 14.