RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Sophomore Juan Chantaca broke the 8K school record in a top-five finish at the UC Riverside Invitational Friday morning at UCR's Agricultural Operations Course.
 
Chantaca crossed the finish line in 23:38.4 to beat UC Irvine's previous record of 23:47.0, which was held by Zeid Hussain (2022) and Ricky Barnes (2006). He also bettered his own PR by 13 seconds.
 
Chantaca held steady with the lead pack throughout the race and finished fourth in a field of 224. It was Chantaca's second-straight top-five showing after winning the Vanguard Invitational 8K on September 5.
 
Freshman Ziyad Abdallah was the Anteaters' No. 2 runner, coming in 62nd. He clocked in at 24:52.9, improving on his 8K time from three weeks ago by four seconds.
 
Sophomore Jimmy Markowicz (25:15.7) and freshman Mark McAleenan Jr. (25:44.9) were next across the line for the 'Eaters, while sophomore Angel Cordero (25:53.7) and freshman Javin Schmitt (26:12.7) rounded out UCI's lineup. Cordero and Schmitt both recorded personal bests.
 
UC Irvine will be back in action at the Bill Dellinger Invitational in Springfield, Oregon, on Friday, Oct. 10.