Cross Country Opens 2021 Season with Team Victories
Tucson, Ariz. – UCLA's men's and women's cross country squads came away with team victories at the Arizona Invitational, kicking off the 2021 season in impressive fashion. The Bruin men swept the first five positions for 15 total points in the 8k, while the UCLA women placed five in the top nine to score 23 points for the 6k victory.
Arizona took second on the men's (48 pts) and women's (34 pts) sides. Arizona State also had runners participating, but did not field a scoring five in either race.
Michael Mireles led the way for the men's squad, as the freshman earned a debut victory with a time of 25:15.3. He becomes the second Bruin in as many years to win their first race for UCLA Cross Country, as Emma Tavella earned a win in her freshman debut against Riverside last season (Aug. 31, 2019). Fellow first-year Ronan McMahon-Staggs took second place with a time of 25:19.5, and redshirt freshman Peter Herold finished third (25:22.6) in his first race donning the four letters. Junior Munir Kabbara (25:24.8) and freshman Anthony Stone (25:31.3) rounded out UCLA's scoring five in fourth and fifth place, respectively.
Freshman Jake Parker (eighth), junior Chris Weiland (ninth), and freshman Dylan Wilbur (15th) filled out the rest of the Bruins' lineup in the 8k.
The Bruin women were paced by sophomore Emma Tavella, who secured a runner-up showing with a 6k time of 21:51.6. Senior Paige Carter was UCLA's second runner on the day, finishing fourth with a time of 22:18.9. Sophie Scott (22:45.9), Savannah Scriven (22:47.4), and Kira Loren (22:51.3) went 7-8-9 to wrap the Bruins' scoring group.
UCLA's sixth runner was Anne Werner, who crossed in 11th place with a time of 23:15.2. Freshman Ashley Johnson (23:37.0) finished 14th in her debut, and senior Alyssa Bautista took 17th place with a time of 24:16.7
Up Next
The Bruins are headed back to Tucson for the Dave Murray Invitational on Friday, Feb. 19. Additional information regarding this meet will be provided as it becomes available.