Saturday, November 3, 2018

MONMOUTH, Ore. – Alaska Anchorage made it four in a row, but not without a fight.

The Seawolves placed four runners in the top-10, a grouping that proved to be the difference for the Seawolves in winning the GNAC Women’s Cross Country Championships on Saturday at Western Oregon University’s Ash Creek Preserve.

Junior Emmah Chelimo pulled away from the last pack over the last kilometer in the 6,000-meter race to become the fourth straight Seawolves’ athlete to win the individual title in a time of 21:15.1. By virtue of her finish, Chelimo was named the conference’s Women’s Cross Country Athlete of the Year.

Sophomore Nancy Jeptoo placed fifth in 21:51.8, earning her selection as the league’s Newcomer of the Year. Senior Zennah Jepchumba placed ninth in 21:55.9 and senior Danielle McCormick finished 10th with a time of 21:58.1. The quartet helped lead Alaska Anchorage to the fourth consecutive championship and the team’s ninth in the last 10 years with 49 points.

Simon Fraser made it a very close race, placing three runners in the top-10 to finish in second place with a score of 60 points. Sophomore Olivia Willett was the Clan’s top finisher, placing fourth in a time of 21:49.1. Senior Addy Townsend was close behind in seventh place with a time of 21:53.6 while freshman Sophia Kaiser finished eighth in 21:54.2.

Seattle Pacific also played into the close team race, placing third with a score of 64 points. Freshman Kaylee Mitchell performed well in her first conference meet, sticking with the leaders to place third in a time of 21:35.2 to earn Freshman of the Year honors. The Falcons placed their next three in a row with junior Kate Lilly placing 12th in 22:06.8, junior Katherine Walter placing 13th in 22:07.5 and sophomore Dania Holmberg placing 14th in 22:10.4.

Central Washington runners claimed the remaining two All-GNAC selections award to the top-10 finishers. Senior Alexa Shindruk ran an exceptional race to place second, finishing six seconds behind Chelimo in 21:31.1. Sophomore Nicole Soleim finished in sixth place with a time of 21:52.3.

Western Washington placed fourth in the team competition with 86 points, led by junior Sophia Galvez’s 11th place finish in 21:59.5. Central Washington was fifth with 113 points.

All 11 GNAC teams will now move on to regional competition. The NCAA West Regional Championships, hosted by Montana State Billings, will take place on Sat., Nov. 17, at Billings’ Amend Park.

GNAC CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS – WOMEN’S RESULTS
Team Scores: Alaska Anchorage 49, Simon Fraser 60, Seattle Pacific 64, Western Washington 86, Central Washington 113, Northwest Nazarene 174, Western Oregon 208, Montana State Billings 242, Alaska 245, Concordia 246. Saint Martin’s 335.

Top-10 Finishers (All-GNAC): 1, Emmah Chelimo, UAA, 21:25.1. 2, Alexa Shindruk, CWU, 21:31.1. 3, Kaylee Mitchell, SPU, 21:35.2. 4, Olivia Willett, SFU, 21:49.1. 5, Nancy Jeptoo, UAA, 21:51.6. 6, Nicole Soleim, CWU, 21:52.3. 7, Addy Townsend, SFU, 21:53.6. 8, Sophia Kaiser, SFU, 21:54.2. 9, Zennah Jepchumba, UAA, 21:55.9. 10, Danielle McCormick, UAA, 21:58.1.

Athlete of the Year: Emmah Chelimo, Alaska Anchorage
Newcomer of the Year: Nancy Jeptoo, Alaska Anchorage
Freshman of the Year: Kaylee Mitchell, Seattle Pacific