Cross country opens 2019 season this weekend

ORANGE, Calif. – The Chapman University men's and women's cross country teams hit the trail this weekend with their first race of the 2019 season at the Biola Invitational. With 16 newcomers on the squad, the Panthers' youth will be a key factor again this season.

Senior Drake Butler leads the way as the only returning senior on both teams. The veteran scored in the top-50 at the 2018 SCIAC Championships as the second Panther to cross the finish line at 29:18.4. Butler earned a spot at the NCAA Division III West Regionals, placing 80th overall and beating his SCIAC time by nearly two minutes at 27:24.2.

Sophomore Jose Guerrero returns to the squad after drastic improvement in his freshman campaign. The Norwalk native hit a new personal record in the 8k race at the Titan Invitational last season, crossing the finish line at 29:17.19 for a five-minute total improvement over the course of the season. He will look to continue to set personal records as a returner for the Panthers.

Junior Emma Eglinton is a familiar face on the women's side after a successful sophomore campaign that saw a trip to the Division III West Regionals. Eglinton ran the best race of her career at the West Regionals, finishing 63rd overall with a personal-best time of 24:08.0.

Eglinton is joined by seven newcomers and is the only Panther returning to the women's squad for the 2019 season.

The Panthers were selected to finish ninth overall in the SCIAC Preseason Poll. In the 2018 season, the women saw their best finish in program history with a sixth place finish at the SCIAC Championships while the men finished ninth.

by Katie Bell
Sports Information Assistant

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