The eight Big West schools will gather at the Fairbanks Cross Country Course on Saturday, October 28 for the 2006 Big West Cross Country Championships hosted by Cal Poly. The 6K women's race will be the first competition, with the runners set to begin at 10 a.m. The 8K men's race will follow at 11 a.m., while the awards ceremony will take place at noon.
On the women's side, defending champion UC Irvine looks to claim back-to-back titles. The Anteaters are led by Laura Olvera, the 2005 Big West Freshman of the Year and second place finisher at last season's championship. Sara Mickelson, who finished with the second-best 6K time in the league this season, gives UCI a potent 1-2 combination.
Preseason favorite UC Santa Barbara will be hot on UC Irvine's heels thanks to some solid performances to date. The seventh-ranked Gauchos won the Roy Griak Invitational and finished fourth at Pre-Nationals. Stephanie Rothstein, who won the individual crown at the Griak, Lauren Christman and Lindsay Christman give UCSB an experienced group of runners capable of bringing the title back to Santa Barbara. Not to be overlooked is UC Riverside, which achieved a regional ranking for the first time in school history and is led by talented runners Lisa Lopez and Cristina Olivas.
On the men's side, unanimous preseason choice #24 Cal Poly looks to continue its recent run of dominance and claim its seventh title in the last nine years. Philip Reid, Troy Swier and Brian Baker have all had solid seasons and look to lead the Mustangs. The trio is a part of a Cal Poly squad returning four of the top 11 finishers at last year's league championship.
UC Santa Barbara, which is coming off a fourth place finish at Pre-Nationals, hopes to put an end to Cal Poly's run of three-straight titles after finishing second a year ago at the conference meet. The Gauchos are led by Chris Ashley, the defending individual champion, and Mike Chavez, who posted the best 8K time in the league thus far. Add the talents of J.D. Krawczyk and Micah Tyhurst and UCSB will try to live up to its lofty #13 national ranking. Regionally ranked squads UC Irvine, UC Riverside and Long Beach State will also provide stiff competition.
Directions: To get to the course, take 101 Freeway to Highway One. Take Highway One north toward Morro Bay from San Luis Obispo. The course is located off of Education Drive, a right turn off Highway One at the second stoplight across from Cuesta College.