Thursday, September 3
San Diego, Calif. / SDSU Mission Valley River Park
6:00 PM
UC Irvine
at
Aztec Coastal Classic
UC Irvine Opens Season at Aztec Coastal Classic
September 02, 2026 | Men's Cross Country
Aztec Coastal Classic
Date: Thursday, Sept. 3
Event: 7K
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: SDSU Mission Valley River Park - San Diego, Calif.
Live Results
IRVINE, Calif. - The UC Irvine men's cross country team makes its way to San Diego for the season-opening Aztec Coastal Classic on Thursday, Sept. 3. The men's 7K race is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start at SDSU Mission Valley River Park.
QUICK HITS
• UC Irvine returns five letterwinners, including junior Juan Chantaca.
• Last year, Chantaca broke the 8K school record at 23:38.4.
• He also made his way into UCI's top-10 in the 10K (30:09.4).
• Half of the Anteaters' roster will be comprised of first-year freshmen.
CONTINUING THE MOMENTUM
Junior Juan Chantaca is ready to build on an impressive 2025-26 season. Last fall, he led the Anteaters in all five of his cross country races, including at the UC Riverside Invitational where he placed among the top-five in an 8K school-record 23:38.4. Chantaca also ran a 10K personal-best 30:09.4 to come in 32nd at the NCAA West Regional. It was UCI's best individual regional finish since 1999, while his time ranked seventh in program history. During the 2026 track season, Chantaca was a Big West scorer in the 5000m (5th) and 10000m (8th). He was the only student-athlete not from conference champion Cal Poly in the top-eight of the 5K.
EXPERIENCED CORE
The 'Eaters also welcome back senior Jimmy Markowicz, junior Omar Reyes, and sophomores Ziyad Abdallah and Javin Schmitt. Abdallah and Markowicz were among UC Irvine's top-three finishers in every race last year. Abdallah ran an 8K personal-record 24:52.9 at the UCR Invitational, while Markowicz clocked a best of 25:01.7 at the Vanguard Invitational. The duo also joined Chantaca at the 2025 NCAA West Regional in Sacramento.
FAB FIVE
Braulio Castillo is expected to lead a crew of five true freshmen in 2026. Castillo, who prepped at West Ranch High School, was the 2025 Foothill League cross country individual champion, finished seventh at the CIF Division 3 State meet, and qualified for the Brooks Cross Country National Championship. Nolan Calder (San Juan Hills HS), Owen Souther (Canyon HS), Nathan Wilber (Cathedral Catholic HS), and Aiden Zavala (Woodbridge HS) also bring impressive high school credentials.
UP NEXT
UC Irvine makes its first of three trips to the UCR Ag/Ops Cross Country Course for the UC Riverside Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 19.
Date: Thursday, Sept. 3
Event: 7K
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: SDSU Mission Valley River Park - San Diego, Calif.
Live Results
IRVINE, Calif. - The UC Irvine men's cross country team makes its way to San Diego for the season-opening Aztec Coastal Classic on Thursday, Sept. 3. The men's 7K race is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start at SDSU Mission Valley River Park.
QUICK HITS
• UC Irvine returns five letterwinners, including junior Juan Chantaca.
• Last year, Chantaca broke the 8K school record at 23:38.4.
• He also made his way into UCI's top-10 in the 10K (30:09.4).
• Half of the Anteaters' roster will be comprised of first-year freshmen.
CONTINUING THE MOMENTUM
Junior Juan Chantaca is ready to build on an impressive 2025-26 season. Last fall, he led the Anteaters in all five of his cross country races, including at the UC Riverside Invitational where he placed among the top-five in an 8K school-record 23:38.4. Chantaca also ran a 10K personal-best 30:09.4 to come in 32nd at the NCAA West Regional. It was UCI's best individual regional finish since 1999, while his time ranked seventh in program history. During the 2026 track season, Chantaca was a Big West scorer in the 5000m (5th) and 10000m (8th). He was the only student-athlete not from conference champion Cal Poly in the top-eight of the 5K.
EXPERIENCED CORE
The 'Eaters also welcome back senior Jimmy Markowicz, junior Omar Reyes, and sophomores Ziyad Abdallah and Javin Schmitt. Abdallah and Markowicz were among UC Irvine's top-three finishers in every race last year. Abdallah ran an 8K personal-record 24:52.9 at the UCR Invitational, while Markowicz clocked a best of 25:01.7 at the Vanguard Invitational. The duo also joined Chantaca at the 2025 NCAA West Regional in Sacramento.
FAB FIVE
Braulio Castillo is expected to lead a crew of five true freshmen in 2026. Castillo, who prepped at West Ranch High School, was the 2025 Foothill League cross country individual champion, finished seventh at the CIF Division 3 State meet, and qualified for the Brooks Cross Country National Championship. Nolan Calder (San Juan Hills HS), Owen Souther (Canyon HS), Nathan Wilber (Cathedral Catholic HS), and Aiden Zavala (Woodbridge HS) also bring impressive high school credentials.
UP NEXT
UC Irvine makes its first of three trips to the UCR Ag/Ops Cross Country Course for the UC Riverside Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 19.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
Tuesday, November 18
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