Mirro, Leith pace cross country teams at Biola Invitational

BREA, Calif. – The Chapman University men's cross country team made its season debut while the women's team was back out on the course on Friday morning at the Biola Invitational. The men's team placed 10th and the women's team took ninth. The Panthers were the only Division III teams in a field of 20-plus teams from NCAA Division II and junior colleges.

Sophomore Zach Leith paced the men's team in its first race since 2019 with a time of 26:37.0 in 42nd place out of 209 runners.. The 8k race was also the first of Leith's career at Chapman. Freshman Landon Davies made his Chapman debut with a 26:53.8 to place 51st.

David Anderson was the next Panther runner to finish in 87th with a 27:49.5. Aiden White with a 27:51.9. Sophomore Gil Bothwell completed the Panther team scoring in his debut, placing 142nd with a 29:53.0.

Junior Maddie Mirro once again paced the women's team in the 5k race with a new personal-best time. Her 18:44.5 placed 13th overall. Freshman Annika Carlson was the next Panther across the finish line, finishing in 20 minutes flat in 49th. Fellow freshman Tasha Kotz finished right with Carlson, clicking in at 20:00.3.

Sophomore Grace Coleman made her cross country debut with a time of 20:35.2 and freshman Kendall Clark clocked in at 21:03.2 to complete the team scoring.

As a team, the Chapman women averaged a time of 20:05 and accrued 205 points in the 5k race. The men averaged 27:50 in the 8k with 293 points.

Both Chapman teams are back out on the course at the UCR Invitational on Sep. 18.

By Steven Olveda
Sports Information Director

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