SAN MARCOS, Calif. – Annika Carlson broke her own school record to lead the Chapman University cross country teams at the Cougar Challenge on Saturday. In the first 6k race of the year for the women's team, Carlson broke her previous school record by 23 seconds.

Carlson finished the 6k with a time of 21:12.7 to take third place overall among a field of mostly Division II runners. She paced the Panthers to an 11th place finish as a team. Her record-breaking run gives her two school records in three races this season.

Chapman averaged a 23-minute 6k among its runners. Brenda Daza's 22:48.3 placed her 36th overall. Chapman's next three finishers were freshmen as the youngest class continued to be impactful for the Panthers in 2024.

The men's team took 10th in its 8k race and averaged a 26:43 as a team. Sophomore Gavin White paced the Panthers with a 25:58.5 to 60th individually. Luke Valerio was next to the finish line at 26:22.5 and Lorenzo Collier was next at 26:52.0 as both finished in the top-100 to lead the men's team.

The Panthers head into a midseason training stretch but will next toe the starting line on Oct. 19 at the Highlander Classic.