Panthers compete at UCR Invite

ORANGE, Calif. – The Chapman University men's and women's cross country teams opened season with strong outings at the 36th Annual UC Riverside Invitational. The men's team finished 18th overall and the women's team finished eighth.

Senior Michiko Yee paced the Panthers in the 6K with a final mark of 24:07.86, just three seconds off of her career best. Just two slots behind Yee were four Panthers who finished within 30 seconds of each other to create a narrow 1-5 gap.

Freshman Avery Cardosi was the first of the next four Panthers to cross the line with a final mark of 24:20.34. Seniors Cathryne Ramirez and Jessica Selby crossed the line in spots three and four with times of 24:26.86 and 24:51.53. 

Sophomore Mia Hernandez rounded out Chapman's top-five with a career-best time of 24:56.72.  The Panthers averaged a 6K time of 24:32.67 in their debut meet.

The men's team was led by freshman Elijah Orr who ran a 26:01.99 in his first collegiate event to finish in the top-90. Orr's opening-event is only seven seconds off the school record.

Just a minute behind Orr, was freshman Chris Pai who finished with a final time of 27:06.24.

Freshman Drake Butler crossed with a final mark of 27:29.27 while rookie Tomas Aragone finished just two seconds behind him at the 27:31.36 to break the 28 minute mark and earn a spot in the top-200.

The men's average time in their opening 8K race was 27:12.37, while maintaining a 1-5 gap under two minutes.

The Panthers will return to the course on Saturday, Sept. 24 for the CSUSB Invite in San Bernardino. The women will toe the line first at 8 a.m. and the men's race will begin shortly after at 8:45 a.m.

by Raquel Rinauro
Sports Information Assistant

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