Cross country season to open at UC Irvine Invite on Saturday

ORANGE, Calif. – High temperatures and stiff competition will test the Chapman University cross country team in their season-opening meet on Saturday at the 2013 UC Irvine Invitational. The Panthers youthful roster will compete against an impressive list of schools that includes familiar SCIAC opponents as well as Division I opponents in UC Irvine and San Diego State.

Head coach Anna Wlodarczyk enters her 21st season leading the Panthers with one of her most promising, albeit inexperienced rosters to date. The men's roster is highlighted by sophomore Chris Reid, who had a tremendous freshman season in which he paced the men's team in every meet he competed in. Sophomores Hugo Flores and Josh Nudelman will compete alongside Reid, looking to build on impressive debut campaigns.

Meanwhile, the women's roster boasts several new faces, including 10 freshmen who will make their collegiate debuts this season. Juniors Lisa Peterkin and Charlie Truax headline the short list of returning female runners, making up two-thirds of the upper classmen on the roster.

The women will toe the line for their 5K race at the UC Irvine Invitational at 8:30 a.m. with the men's 8K race slated for a 9:15 a.m. start. Following the meet, the Panthers will have a week off before competing in the UC Riverside Invitational on Sept. 14.

Poised to make a splash in its second year in the SCIAC, the squad will get their first look at a handful of conference opponents on Saturday. The Panthers' first SCIAC competition will be Oct. 5 at the Pomona-Pitzer Invite.

by Ryan Cavinder
Sports Information Assistant

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