This light-footed veteran will play a critical role for the Gauchos in the 1,500 and, especially, the 5k. This year, Art looks to shave time off of his 5k personal best of 14:43 and score points for the Gauchos, rounding out a solid pack of 5k runners. Art's positive spirit has always had a motivational presence for his fellow Gauchos, and he looks to continue pushing the Gauchos to new heights in 2007.
2005 XC Recap: Ran strong at the home opener and at Stanford, then followed those meets with a great race at the NCAA Pre-Nationals setting personal bests at all three.

2005 Track & Field Recap: Started off the season strong setting personal bests in the 1500m and 5000m. Grabbed the last scoring spot in the Big West Championship 10k finals, a 8th place finish.

2004 XC Recap: Came back late into the season, finished seventh at the Titan Invitational to help the Gauchos become the first collegiate team at that meet.

2004 Track & Field Recap: Avitia took a red-shit season in 2004, competing unattached, Art logged a 5,000m PR of 14:43.67 to win the OXY Invitational.

2003 XC Recap: Art was the Gauchos 3rd man at the Riverside Invitational, running an 8k XC personal best of 24:43.2 for 8th place...Avitia was also the #3 runner for UCSB at the Notre Dame Invitational and improved his Big West Conference finish to 26th as a sophomore from a 53rd place effort as a freshman...finished 6th at the UCSB Lagoon Open in 25:00.

2003 Track & Field Recap: Art ran the fastest time for 5,000m (14:49.99) by a freshman coached by Pete Dolan at UCSB...also recorded PR's for 1500m and 3000m. 2002 Cross Country
First freshman in three seasons to make the top seven for UCSB...Ran 25.46, a PR for 8K cross country, at the Pre-National meet in Indiana as the Gauchos' fourth man.

High School: Finished secnd in the CIF SS Div. III 3200m with a PR of 9:23.77 his senior year of high school...Trained in Kenya before coming to UCSB.

Personal Bests
1500m - 3:56.00
5000m - 14:43.67