HONOLULU – The UC Irvine men's cross country team finished eighth at the Big West Championships Friday morning at Queen Kapi'olani Regional Park.
 
Cal Poly won its fourth-straight team title with six of the top-10 finishers. UC Davis' Muhammed Ahmed was the individual champion (24:14.2).
 
Sophomore Juan Chantaca led the Anteaters for the fourth time in as many meets this season. Chantaca covered the 8K course in 25:24.9 to come in 23rd. He took an early lead but was unable to hold on, dropping back in the lead pack midway through the race.
 
Junior Jimmy Markowicz was next across the line for the 'Eaters in 32nd with a time of 25:41.0. It was a career-high placing for Markowicz at the conference meet.
 
Freshmen Ziyad Abdallah (26:12.1), Javin Schmitt (26:24.1), and Mark McAleenan Jr. (27:02.7) ran their first career Big West Championship race. Sophomores Angel Cordero (28:19.3) and Omar Reyes (29:14.0) rounded out UCI's seven-man lineup.
 
UC Irvine will now have a couple weeks to prepare for the NCAA West Regional at Haggin Oaks Golf Complex in Sacramento on Friday, Nov. 14.