Cross country teams show strong performances at Pomona-Pitzer Invite

POMONA – Calif. – The men's and women's track teams competed in the annual Pomona-Pitzer invite earlier this evening. The Panthers were led by the best showing from the women's top-5 finishers in program history.

The top five finishers in the women's 6k race averaged a time of 24:27.2, the fastest average in Chapman women's cross country history. The team finished in seventh place, beating SCIAC-competitors La Verne and Whittier.

Freshman Maddie Mirro paced the Panthers, finishing in 22nd place overall with a time of 23:47.5, the third-fastest time in school history in the race. Junior Emma Eglinton was the next Panther to finish, crossing the finish line with a time of 24:10.0. Freshman Audrey James finished 14 seconds later at 24:24.4.

Freshman Gabriella Lee took 36th overall with a time of 24:40.0. Fellow classmate Megan Campbell was the next Panther to finish at 25:14.3, followed by freshman Jordan Diaz just nine seconds later at 25:23.8. Freshmen Ella Conway and Shirley Sallas rounded out the women's racers, finishing with times of 25:25.2 and 26:42.5 respectively.

The men's 8k race saw six Panthers hit personal records as the top-5 finishers averaged a time of 27:31, the third fastest 8k average in program history. Chapman took sixth as a team.

Freshman Jacob Millen paced the Panthers again, taking 26th place with a time of 27:02.5, the seventh-fastest 8k time in program history. Fellow classmate Aiden White was just behind Millen, taking 28th place with a personal-best time of 27:09.8 and the eighth-fastest time in school history.

Freshman Anthony Hart was the next Panther to cross the finish line with a personal-best 27:25.0. Senior Drake Butler hit a new season-best after finishing in 34th place at 27:39.8. Junior Jose Guerrero finished next at 28:20.8, followed by freshman David Anderson with a personal-best time of 28:34.7.

Freshman Charles Sakamaki also set a new personal record, finishing in 48th place with a time of 28:39.2. Classmate Dalton Flores finished next at 28:52.0, shattering his previous personal record by 46 seconds. Sophomore Davis Carmichael crossed next at 29:32.3, followed by a personal-best time of 30.30.0 from freshman Chase Shanafelt. Freshman Micah Char and junior Emerson Klump finished the race at 30:50.8 and 32:31.7 respectively.

Head coach DeAndra'e Woods comments on the teams' performances, noting "Not only am I happy with how we are performing, I continue to boast about what Coach Maizland is bringing to this program. The progress we continue to make as a unit is because there is a complete group (Coaches & Student-Athletes) effort called BUY IN. I believe it stems from having student athletes that want to compete, but understand the cooperation it takes to get better together."

Assistant coach Barron Maizland looks to the future. "It's great to see everyone's hard work paying off. Looking forward to move into the championship part of the season."

The Panthers take next weekend off before heading to the Titan Cross Country Invitational at CSU Fullerton on Friday, Oct. 25 at 4:45pm.

by Katie Bell
Sports Information Assistant

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