UC Irvine Wins Cross-Country Title

Freshman Courtney Baird and senior Jamie Blair led the UC Irvine women’s cross-country team to its first Big West Conference title since 1995 on Saturday.

Irvine edged Idaho, 71-75, at Sierra College in Rocklin. It is the Anteaters’ 11th conference title.

Boise State’s Abby Peters won the five-kilometer race in 17 minutes 54 seconds. But Irvine had three runners among the top seven. Baird (18:06) led for a time before falling behind Peters and finishing second.

Blair was third in 18:14 and Kareen Nilsson seventh in 18:29.

“Courtney did a great job, and she is going to win this race someday,” UCI Coach Vince O’Boyle said. Cal State Fullerton’s Heather Garritson was eighth in 18:29.

In the men’s competition, Irvine finished second to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, which had four runners finish in the top five. Irvine had three in the top 10--Jon Doroski, Chris Evans and Michael Murray.