IRVINE, Calif.- It's a thrilling time for Concordia University Irvine's (CUI) women's cross country team as they take the title of PacWest Women's XC Team of the Week! And that's not all-Senior star Taylor Whitfield has also been crowned PacWest Women's XC Runner of the Week!

The PacWest has named CUI's women's cross country team the Team of the Week, following their impressive performance at the Irvine Invitational, held at the OC Great Park. The Golden Eagles finished second in the meet, trailing only UC Irvine, with a final score of 71 points. This performance is remarkable as it reflects the preseason expectations where the team is predicted to finish in second place. It matches their top placement from the previous year, which was their best ever in NCAA Division II history. The Golden Eagles also surpassed seven other PacWest teams, further highlighting their strong performance.

Senior Taylor Whitfield, a key runner in the team's success, made a remarkable comeback after dealing with an injury. From Highlands Ranch, Colorado, Whitfield led the Golden Eagles with a second-place finish in her race, clocking a time of 21:58. Her achievement not only highlights her individual skill, but also her crucial role in driving the team forward. Teammates Porshe Eismann and Elizabeth King also delivered standout performances, with all three women finishing in the top 20. Additionally, the team is nationally ranked 26th as of last week!!

"I am super grateful to be able to compete," said Whitfield."I think we performed pretty well for our first meet. We have more to work on, but it was a really good start." Her positive attitude and determination reflect the team's strong spirit and preparation for upcoming challenges. 

As the Golden Eagles look to build on their strong start, their next challenge will be the UC Riverside Invitational. The event is scheduled for Saturday, September 21, with the women's race at 8:00 A.M. and the men's race following at 9:00 A.M. 

For the full CUI women's cross country schedule, CLICK HERE