As was the case a season ago, Cal Poly's Philip Reid (Oxnard, CA/Rio Mesa) and UC Riverside's Cristina Olivas (Bloomington, CA/Bloomington) have been named the Men's and Women's Cross Country Athlete of the Week, respectively, for their efforts during the opening weekend of action.

Reid, the defending Big West champion and a 2006 All-America, won the individual title at the UCSB Open after finishing the 8K course in 24:50. The senior's efforts led the Mustangs to the team title over the Gauchos, 20-43.

Olivas garnered the women's honor after leading the Highlanders to first place overall at the Nevada Twilight Cross Country Meet. The junior covered the 4K course in 15:43, narrowly edging out Nevada’s Amanda Moreno for the individual title. Olivas was one of four UCR runners to finish in the top five overall.

UC Irvine Meet Highlights Upcoming Weekend Slate

This weekend's schedule features a one of the bigger meets of the season as UC Irvine hosts the Asics/UC Irvine Invitational.

The race will likely have over 200 competitors for both the women's 5K and the men's 8K. In addition to UCI, Cal Poly and Cal State Northridge are the other Big West schools scheduled to compete. Due to a scheduling conflict, the race will be held on campus at the Anteater Recreation Center Fields instead of at Central Park in Huntington Beach.

Two other conference squads are scheduled for action this weekend as UC Davis and Pacific will both head to Oroville, Calif., for the Chico State Invitational.