Wednesday, October 3, 2012

PORTLAND, Ore. - Alaska Anchorage’s women stayed at No. 5 and its men moved up one slot to No. 7 in this week’s USTFCCCA national cross country rankings released Wednesday.

Alaska Anchorage’s women stayed at No. 5 and its men moved up one slot to No. 7 in this week’s USTFCCCA national cross country rankings released Wednesday.

The Seawolf teams were joined in the national rankings by five other GNAC teams.  On the men’s side, Western Washington climbed one position from  12th to 11th and Western Oregon fell three slots from 18th to  21st. 

On the women’s side, Simon Fraser slipped two spots from ninth to 11th,  Seattle Pacific moved up one position to 20th and Western Washington dropped seven from 16th to 23rd.

 Coincidentally none of the GNAC teams that fell – WOU’s men and SFU and WWU’s women – competed last week.

Ten GNAC teams are ranked in this week’s USTFCCCA regional rankings.

Alaska Anchorage is the No. 1 ranked team on the women’s side.  Simon Fraser, Seattle Pacific and Western Washington are ranked third, fourth and sixth, while Northwest Nazarene is ranked 10th. 

On the men’s side, Alaska Anchorage is ranked second and Western Washington is ranked third.  Western Oregon, Seattle Pacific and Northwest Nazarene are ranked fourth, eighth and 10th, respectively.  Chico State is the No. 1 ranked men’s team.

The top five finishers in both the men’s and women’s divisions at the regional meet Nov. 3 at Honolulu will advance to the national meet Nov. 17 at Joplin, Mo.

Most GNAC teams head to Bellingham this Saturday to compete in the 39th Western Washington Invitational at East Lake Padden.  In addition to the Vikings, teams competing will include Alaska Anchorage, Alaska Fairbanks, Central Washington, Saint Martin's and Simon Fraser. 

In all a total of 16 schools will compete.  The men's 10,000-meter race begins at 10 a.m. followed by the women's 6,000-meter race at 11 a.m. 

Elsewhere Northwest Nazarene is entered in the Boise State Open.  Montana State Billings, Western Oregon and Seattle Pacific are idle.