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Cross Country:
UC Irvine Women's Team Picked 2nd in Big West Preseason Poll
Aug. 29, 2008
IRVINE, Calif. --- The UC Irvine women's cross country team has been picked second in the Big West Conference coaches' preseason poll. Coach Vince O'Boyle's Anteaters, who return five of their top six runners from last year's league meet, collected 70 points with three first-place votes. O'Boyle is in his 27th season as head coach of the UCI teams. Senior Laura Olvera, who finished third at the 2007 Big West Championship, has placed in the top three each of the last three conference meets. Senior Candice (Proctor) Chavez placed 10th a year ago, senior Samantha Costantini was 11th, sophomore Katherine Nielsen finished 23rd and senior Lauren Chramosta was 38th. The UCI women's team finished third at last year's Big West meet with 59 points as UC Santa Barbara (44) and UC Riverside (57) were first and second. UC Riverside, with 77 points and six first-place votes, was selected first by the coaches in this year's preseason poll. The Anteater men's team was tabbed to finish fifth this year with 29 points. Senior Nick Mosey placed 19th in last year's conference meet, junior Colin Hacker was 26th and senior Bryan Lopez 36th. UCI finished fifth in last year's conference meet. Cal Poly, which has won the last six Big West men's titles, was selected first with 64 points and all eight first-place votes.
Both Anteater squads open the 2008 season hosting the Asics/UC Irvine Invitational Sept. 6 at the Anteater Recreation Center Fields. The first race begins at 8:00 a.m. The UCI women won last year's invitational and the men's team placed eighth. |
