Newcomers set the pace at Biola Invite

FULLERTON, Calif. – The Chapman University cross country teams opened the 2019 season at the Biola Invitational on Saturday at Ted Craig Regional Park. The young teams were both paced by freshman.

"It's only been the first race but I'm excited to see what this men and women's team can accomplish this season," said distance coach Barron Maizland. "It's not a matter of when they will improve but by how much."

The women's team was on the course first but the Panthers entered the race shorthanded due to illness. Freshman Gabriella Lee led the Panthers with a time of 20:07 in the 5k race with fellow freshman Audrey James following close behind at 20:40. Junior Emma Eglinton was next to cross at 20:47 and freshman Ella Conway debuted with a time of 21:04. Jordan Diaz – yet another freshman on the young Panther squad – finished with a 21:38 and classmate Shirley Sallas rounded out the scoring with a 22:30.

A youthful men's squad was next on the course with several freshmen running in their first 8k races. Freshman Jacob Millen paced the team with a strong performance in his debut, finishing in a time of 26:56. Sophomore Jose Guerrero ran to a big personal record from the year before with a time of 27:48. Freshman Aiden White finished close behind at 28:14, senior Drake Butler ran a 28:24 and freshman Anthony Hart finished at 28:48. Freshman David Anderson was the next to cross the finish line at 28:59 and sophomore Davis Carmichael rounded out Chapman's top-7 with a 30:22.

The Panther women took 16th in a strong field of 22 teams of mostly Division II and NAIA teams. The men's team took 14th out of 18 teams in the talented field.

Chapman heads out to UC Riverside on Saturday for its next race – the UC Riverside Invitational.

By Steven Olveda
Sports Information Director

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