by RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Junior Isaiah Thompson (San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians) posted a fifth-place finish to lead UC Irvine at the Big West Conference Championship in Riverside Saturday morning.
Thompson covered 8,000 meters at the UC Riverside Agricultural Operations Course in 24:24.22 to lead the ‘Eaters to a fifth-place team showing. It was Thompson’s best conference finish as he earned All-Big West honors. His finish was also the best by an Anteater in the league meet in three years.
Izzak Mireles placed 25th in 25:15.64, Branden Randall was 26th (25:17.09) and Eric Lawver 39th (25:53.83).
Nolan Del Valle registered a 43rd-place finish in 26:04.21, David Aguilar was 55th (26:46.38), Andrew Graciano 56th (26:47.86) and Jonathan Rodriguez 62nd (27:21.85).
Bryan Guijarro of UC Santa Barbara was the individual winner in 24:01.94.
UCI finished with 132 points as UCSB won the team title with 31, Cal Poly was second with 36, UC Davis third with 107 and Long Beach State fourth with 109.
The Anteaters travel to Seattle, Wash., for the NCAA West Regional Nov. 13.
