IRVINE, Calif. – Senior
Spencer Handorf and sophomore
Dante Maldonado lead the charge in to a new season as the Concordia University Irvine men's cross country team gears up for its first race this Saturday.
CUI was picked to finish second in the PacWest Conference Preseason Poll voted on by head coaches.
A big reason why is that Handorf enjoyed a breakout season as a junior with former running mate
Noah Plaza. Handorf finished third overall at the PacWest Conference meet joining Plaza in the top three.
Maldonado impressed as a true freshman and hustled the entire season. He was rewarded for his consistency with Second Team All-Conference honors a year ago and will look to form a solid 1-2 punch with Handorf for the Green and Gold. Maldonado wound up 14th overall after competing in his first PacWest Conference Championship race.
It will be a very young squad for the CUI men this fall under new head coach David Pleitez, the former Cal State San Marcos head coach
who was hired by his alma mater over the summer.
There are actually eight total sophomores on the squad with Maldonado joined by classmates
Logan Jones,
Gavin Crocker,
Joshua Hoffman,
Lucas Morris,
Nathan Nguyen,
August Sonsma and
Owen Stults.
Juniors
Bryce Philbeck and
Jonathan Warrick are also looking to help the squad by competing to score in the top five.
New faces include the following seven freshmen joining the ranks:
Quinten Brooks (Bothell HS);
Richard Fields (Clovis North HS);
Isaiah Garma (Cypress HS);
Caleb Hernandez (Oakmont HS);
Eddie Hocking (Aliso Niguel HS);
Shane Tominaga (Waiakea HS);
Julio Vega (Samueli Academy).
The Golden Eagles get to compete for the first time at the Coyote Challenge this Saturday, Sept 5 out in San Bernardino.
CLICK HERE for the full CUI men's cross country schedule
