ORANGE, Calif. — Her hobby made her a conference champion. 

When Chapman cross country junior Brenda Daza was growing up in nearby Buena Park, Calif., she never played a sport. That includes the normal suspects ranging from six-and-under youth soccer, to the local T-ball league or even the local toddler gymnastics classes. 

Daza did not do any of it. At least, until physical education class in elementary school. On Fridays, Daza's school required students in upper grades to run the mile on the giant grass field out back. 

It is a rather time honored tradition that some students may conveniently come down with a cold, suffer a sprained ankle or need to use the restroom just as the race is beginning. More than likely, they were searching for any excuse to avoid running those dreaded laps. 

But it was different for Daza. 

"I got really into it (the weekly mile)," Daza said. "I got such a dopamine rush from doing it each week."

Still, Daza assumed it would remain a hobby until it became her high school sport. A way to make friends, soon became a pathway to Chapman, the university she had been eyeing since sophomore year of high school. 

The Southern California local started at Chapman in fall 2023 where she showed promise early and immediately gravitated towards her then upperclassmen teammate Annika Carlson. 

Carlson, who graduated from Chapman in May 2025, was a three-sport athlete for the Panthers on the cross country, track & field and lacrosse teams. She holds titles, school records, and earned spots on All-SCIAC teams in all three sports. She is widely considered one of the most accomplished athletes in program history. 

"Having someone to look up to, someone that pushes you, not just as a teammate, but also a friend has meant everything," Daza said of Carlson. "The way that she had that drive and motivation was unbelievably empowering to see."

Daza had a 'see her, be her' moment. It paid dividends at the 2025 SCIAC Track & Field Championships. 

As Carlson captured conference titles in the 1500 meters, steeplechase and 5k races, Daza made history of her own. The sophomore shocked the competition and won the SCIAC title in the 10k with a time of 37:10.

"The first words that came out of my mouth were: 'What just happened,'" Daza said. "I envisioned it in my head leading up to the day, but when it finally happened I said 'Whoa, is this real?'" 

Yes it is real. 

Five months later, Daza remains more determined than ever to prove it was no fluke. Carlson, her now former teammate, predicted the success immediately.

"I saw how intentional she was with her training," Carlson said. "Not only do her actions set an amazing example for the team, the attitude she brings to practice and meets is infectious."

The infectious energy carries over into every other aspect of Daza's life. She graduated high school with a full International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma while also being a student athlete. Daza also plans to graduate one year early from Chapman with a degree in psychology from the Crean College of Health and Behavioral Sciences. 

Then, she hopes to attend law school at Chapman University Dale E. Fowler School of Law while using her final year of eligibility to compete for the Panthers. Her ultimate goal is to become a sports lawyer. 

"In a picture perfect scenario, I would go right across the street to Chapman Law School," Daza says. "Everytime I cross the street, I walk in front of Beckman Hall, I think to myself 'hopefully one day, I am there.'" 

She plans to clear new heights and Daza is a rising tide. She fully intends to lift the cross country and track & field programs to similar heights. Her goals also align with assistant coach Mircea Bogdan. 

The first year coach qualified to run the marathon for Team Romania at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. Since arriving at Chapman in August, Bogdan can sense a similar competitive edge in the junior, and the impact she's had on the program.

"People look up to her, and are proud to have somebody like her in their corner," Bogdan said. "Everybody wants to go to war with a soldier like her."

Bogdan compares building program values to racing concepts. Those concepts include 'passing the baton' during a track & field relay, athletes clearing a 'new height' in pole vault and abandoning the smart running watch on race day. In the grander scheme, he intends to lift the program to new heights by having student athletes such as Daza pass the baton to the next generation. The assistant caoch wants athletes to develop an internal clock on race day and trust that the great times will come. 

It is working out well for Daza. She finished seventh in the 6k at the Pomona-Pitzer Invite with a time of 21:58, the third time in 2025 she's finished the race in under 22 minutes. 

Which is not half bad, especially considering Daza beautifully say, "It used to just be a hobby, but then I got sucked in."