Senior runner Kaia Schmidt from the University of California, Irvine Women’s Cross Country team was named Anteater of the Week on November 4, 2026, following her performance at the Big West Conference Championships, which took place at the Ag/Ops Cross Country Course in Riverside.
Schmidt was the top finisher for UC Irvine, placing seventh in the women’s 6K race with a personal record time of 20:02.8. This time ranks as the fourth-best 6K result in the history of the UC Irvine cross country program. Her top-10 finish earned her All-Big West honors for the second consecutive year.
The UC Irvine Women’s Cross Country team is scheduled to compete next at the NCAA West Regional in Sacramento on Friday, November 13, aiming to capitalize on Schmidt’s strong showing at the conference meet.
CSB Take
Kaia Schmidt’s recognition as Anteater of the Week underscores her leadership and key contributions to the UC Irvine Women’s Cross Country team. Achieving a personal record that ranks highly in program history demonstrates her ongoing development and competitiveness. As the team approaches the NCAA West Regional, Schmidt’s form will be vital to advancing UC Irvine’s standing at the national level.
Source: Original report
More coverage: UC Irvine Anteaters.
