Full Release
IRVINE, Calif. — For the second consecutive year, UC Davis women's cross country produced the top women's freshman in the Big West Conference, with newcomer Chloe Arriaga earning the honor in 2019.
C. Arriaga has compiled an outstanding season thus far, and has been a contributor in the Aggies' scoring-five throughout the year, crossing as the third UC Davis runner or better in four meets this season. Highlighting her debut season to date, C. Arriaga helped lead the Aggies at the 2019 Big West Championships, placing eighth overall to be the highest-finishing freshman in the conference, edging out teammates and fellow freshmen Emma Hicken (11th) and Sierra Atkins (13th) for All-Conference honors.
"I'm really proud of Chloe and all her accomplishments so far as a UC Davis student-athlete," said head coach Emma Petersen.
"She is a wonderful person to have at practice and a dream to coach, just like her other freshmen teammates. It's no surprise that Chloe is running so well this season — she was a decorated high school athlete and is a very naturally talented runner. Sometimes that transition to the college ranks can be difficult when you suddenly find yourself mid-pack and not leading races, but all our freshmen have done a great job with staying focused and racing smart. It paid off for Chloe last week at the conference meet," finished Petersen.
Not only was C. Arriaga the best freshman on the day, but she recorded the highest finish by a true freshman in UC Davis' Big West History since the late Sarah Sumpter won the only individual title for UC Davis in 2009. She even placed higher than one of her sports heroes and 2016 Olympian, Brenda Martinez did in her first year of collegiate racing in the Big West for UC Riverside.
Adding her name to an elite list, C. Arriaga is just the second Aggie to take home Big West Freshman of the Year honors, and is the first true freshman to do so, as 2018 honoree and current teammate, Eva Goodisson, was a redshirt freshman.
C. Arriaga's personal best time of 20:55.9 at the Riverside Ags/Ops course marks the first race under the 21-minute threshold of her career, and bodes well leading into the NCAA West Regional next Friday in Colfax, Wash. at the Colfax Golf Club.
2019 BIG WEST AWARDS
MEN'S ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Jake Ritter, Cal Poly
WOMEN'S ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Miranda Daschian, Cal Poly
MEN'S FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: John Bennett, Cal Poly
WOMEN'S FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Chloe Arriaga, UC Davis
MEN'S COACH OF THE YEAR: Mark Conover, Cal Poly
WOMEN'S COACH OF THE YEAR: John Elders, Cal State Fullerton
UC DAVIS BIG WEST FRESHMEN OF THE YEAR (since 2007)
2019 - Chloe Arriaga (Fr.)
2018 - Eva Goodisson (RFr.)
ABOUT UC DAVIS
Providing a small-town community feel while providing a world-class academic experience, UC Davis is home to more than 37,000 students and centrally located between San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, and the Napa Valley. The No. 5-ranked public university in the nation, according to the Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education, offers nearly 100 graduate programs and more than 100 academic majors across four colleges and six professional schools, ranking among the world and nation's best in numerous disciplines, including veterinary science, agriculture, and plant and animal programs.
MARYA WELCH INITIATIVE
Named after the former physical education instructor, coach and Dean of Women who founded women's sports on the campus 25 years before the passage of Title IX, the Marya Welch Initiative for Women's Athletics provides comprehensive support for UC Davis' 16 athletics programs.
Through the support of the Marya Welch Initiative and its group members, student-athletes are provided the best possible opportunity to succeed inside the classroom, and in competition, through special project gifts and by increasing visibility and participation at women's events throughout the year.
All gifts to the Marya Welch Initiative are matched 1:1, doubling the impact on our women's programs.
To learn more about projects the Marya Welch Initiative is currently funding, like the Marya Welch Initiative on Facebook. Join this groundbreaking program by clicking here, contacting Assistant AD for Leadership Giving and Alumni Engagement Liz Martin at (530) 752-7326 or emartin@ucdavis.edu.
AGGIE EVO
Established during the 2017-18 academic year, the Aggie EVO System is UC Davis Athletics' investment in the primary mission of preparing student-athletes for a successful "launch" after graduation. Thanks to a collaboration of alumni, university resources, corporate partners, coaches and Student-Athlete Outcomes staff, all Aggies are guided over four years to acquire the skills, knowledge, opportunities and tools to better know and navigate the "World of Work" after graduating from UC Davis. Follow the Aggie EVO system on Twitter and Instagram at @AggieEVO.
