Saturday, October 26, 2019

BILLINGS, Mont. – Alaska Anchorage had the front-runners, but Western Washington used a team effort to win its first-ever conference women’s cross country title at a snowy GNAC Women’s Cross Country Championships at Amend Park.

The Vikings had three top-10 finishers and had a gap of just 26 seconds between the No. 1 and No. 5 runners to claim the trophy with a total of 53 points. The Seawolves were a close second place with 60 points and Seattle Pacific was just four points behind in third place with 64 points.

Alaska Anchorage senior Emmah Chelimo repeated as the conference individual champion, holding the lead from start to finish to win in a time of 21:31.9 over 6,000 meters. Seattle Pacific senior Kate Lilly finished second in a time of 21:39.3 while Alaska Anchorage junior Nancy Jeptoo was third in a time of 21:55.5.

While the Seawolves placed three runners in the top-10, the race was won for the Vikings in the pack. Three WWU runners earned All-GNAC honors, led by junior Jane Barr’s eighth-place finish in 22:26.1. Sophomore Rebecca Lehman was ninth in a time of 22:29.6 and senior Tracy Melville was 10th in a time of 22:40.

Senior Sophia Galvez finished 11th in a time of 22:43.9 and sophomore Tovah Swartz-Ireland rounded out the scoring five, placing 15th in 22:52.3.

Joan Kipsanai earned Freshman of the Year honors and was Alaska Anchorage’s third All-GNAC honoree, placing sixth in a time of 22:20.6. Western Oregon sophomore Olivia Jimenez was named the Newcomer of the Year as she placed 23rd in 23:17.6.

Junior Dania Holmberg gave Seattle Pacific its second All-GNAC honoree, placing fourth in 22:02.5. Western Oregon senior Grace Knapp placed fifth in a time of 22:04.3 and Simon Fraser junior Olivia Willett was seventh in 22:22.2. The top-10 finishers in the race received All-GNAC honors.

After running practice sessions on Friday in 69-degree heat and wind, teams were welcomed this morning by three inches of snow. Chelimo, Lilly and Jeptoo quickly broke away as a lead pack with Chelimo holding and increasing a lead throughout the race to repeat as champion.

The win marked the first GNAC team championship in women’s cross country for Western Washington and snapped a streak of four consecutive team titles for Alaska Anchorage. It also marked the first time that a school other than UAA has swept the GNAC team titles as Western Washington also took the men’s crown. Chelimo gave the Seawolves fifth consecutive individual champion.

Next up for all 11 GNAC teams is the NCAA Division II West Region Championships, which will take place on Sat., Nov. 9 at the Ash Creek Preserve on the Western Oregon University campus in Monmouth, Oregon.

2019 GNAC WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Amend Park, Billings, Mont. (Montana State Billings, Host)
Team Results: Western Washington 53, Alaska Anchorage 60, Seattle Pacific 64, Simon Fraser 101, Northwest Nazarene 120, Western Oregon 153, Central Washington 168, Alaska 244, Concordia 255. Montana State Billings 272, Saint Martin’s 307.

Top 10 Finishers (All-GNAC): 1, Emmah Chelimo, UAA, 21:31.9. 3, Kate Lilly, SPU, 21:39.3. 3, Nancy Jeptoo, UAA, 21:55.5. 4, Dania Holmberg, SPU, 22:02.5. 5, Grace Knapp, WOU, 22:04.3. 6, Joan Kipsanai, UAA, 22:20.6. 7, Olivia Willett, SFU, 22:22.2. 8, Jane Barr, WWU, 22:26.1. 9, Rebecca Lehman, WWU, 22:29.6. 10, Tracy Melville, WWU, 22:40.0.

Athlete of the Year: Emmah Chelimo, Alaska Anchorage
Freshman of the Year: Joan Kipsanai, Alaska Anchorage
Newcomer of the Year: Olivia Jimenez, Western Oregon