by IRVINE, Calif. — UC Irvine opened the 2015 season in high style Saturday, winning the title of the adidas/UCI Invitational at the Anteater Recreation Center Fields.
The ‘Eaters, with five runners in the top 13 spots, totaled 31 points to win its home meet for the first time since 2010. Long Beach State placed second with 35 points and UC San Diego was third with 81.
Izzak Mireles led UCI with a fourth-place time of 25:27.70 over the 8,000-meter course. Isaiah Thompson ( San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians) was seventh in 25:30.27, David Aguilar finished eighth in 25:36.76, Branden Randall was 10th in 25:41.64 and Nolan Del Valle placed 13th in 25:49.01.
Rounding out the Anteaters’ top seven were Eric Lawver in 17th place (26:10.65) and Ashton Garcia 30th (26:40.74).
John Gilbertson, an unattached runner, won the race with a time of 24:46.73.
UCI is back in action Sept. 19 in the Mustang Invitational, hosted by The Master’s College, at Central Park in Santa Clarita.
