UCI men make history

Steve Virgen

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- The UC Irvine men’s cross country team’s

performance Saturday was so emotional, Coach Vince O’Boyle held back

tears as he delivered a heartfelt, post-race speech to his squad

Saturday at Central Park in Huntington Beach.

“That’s the first time in a long time, Irvine has won an

invitational title,” said O’Boyle, who is in his 21st season with the

Anteaters.

The Anteaters won the UCI/J.L. Design Invitational, the first time

in the 10-year history of the meet that Irvine has won the team

championship. It was, in fact, the first meet title the Anteaters

have won since 1991, when they won the Big West Conference

championship.

“That was an outstanding effort,” O’Boyle told his runners.

“Southern Utah, we were getting our butts kicked by them two years

ago, and last year. So, now that is going to hit some people in the

face when they see we won an invitational. That is just outstanding.

What a great win.”

The Anteaters put five runners in the top 28 spots and finished

with 65 points. UCI freshman Tom Whelan made his debut and led the

Anteaters, finishing fifth (25:48.4) on the 8,000-meter course. UCI

senior Travis Morisoli followed in sixth (25:253.8).

“This is just incredible,” Morisoli said. “We have good teams in

our conference. And, I think we can run with the top two teams.

They’re not expecting us. No one expects us to do anything and we’re

going to scare a lot of people. They better watch out.”

Irvine gained confidence Saturday and found hope, as Whelan

continued to impress. He was recruited by Cal Poly Pomona and UC San

Diego, which finished second and seventh, respectively.

The biggest reason he came to Irvine was Morisoli, Whelan said.

They are both from Highland.

“It’s a big adjustment to go from high school to college,” Whelan

said. “But the way this team has come together, with camp and the

past couple of weeks, it’s been really gratifying. That’s one of the

big changes from high school. I’m glad I can help in any way. I think

we can make more history this season. We look at the (coaches’) poll,

and it had us going sixth in the conference. We know we’re better

than that. We just want to show the conference that we are a force to

be reckoned with.”

Ricky Barnes, another Irvine freshman, finished 16th in 26:23.9, and two more UCI freshman also contributed in the victory. John Kluve

finished 22nd (26:37.4) and C.J. Howard came in at 28th (26:49.2).

UCI senior Brian Harrison finished 35th (27:01.6) and senior Jules

Castano was 40th (27:16.9).

UC IRVINE/J.L. DESIGN INVITATIONAL

Team -- 1. UC Irvine, 65 points; 2. Cal Poly Pomona, 69; 3. Fresno

State, 95; 4. Santa Clara, 96; 5. Southern Utah, 102.

Individual -- 1. Cabada (FSU), 25:15.2; 2. Batres (CPP), 25:18.5;

3. Rangel (unattached), 25:44.9; 4. Cook (FSU), 25:45.6; 5. Whelan

(UCI), 25:48.4; 6. Morisoli (UCI), 25:53.8; 7. Redig (unattached),

25:59.0; 8. Wardell (Azusa Pacific), 26:04.6; 9. Gachago (APU),

26:09.0; 10. Sherran (So. Utah), 26:10.9.

Others: 16. Barnes (UCI), 26:23.9; 22. Kluve (UCI), 26:37.4; 28.

C.J. Howard (UCI), 26:49.2; 35. Harrison (UCI), 27:01.6; 40. Castano (UCI), 27:16.9; 41. Santos (UCI), 27:19.1; 56. Jacobsen (UCI),

27:46.7; 58. Uribe (UCI), 27:48.0; 59. Vasquez (UCI), 27:51.0; 60.

Sebastian (UCI), 27:51.3; 77. Garrett (UCI), 28:45.2.