Wednesday, September 18, 2013

PORTLAND, Ore. - Five GNAC teams including nationally-ranked Simon Fraser will compete Saturday in the Erik Anderson Invitational at the Plantes Ferry Sports Stadium in Spokane, Wash.

The invitational is also serving as a regional and national preview as Plantes Ferry will also host the NCAA Division II West Regional Nov. 9 and the NCAA Division II national meet Nov. 23.  The GNAC is the host for those two meets.

Joining Simon Fraser in this weekend's invitational will be Central Washington, Montana State Billings, Western Oregon and Western Washington.  The men's race will begin at 10:45 a.m. followed by the women's race at 11:45 a.m.

Simon Fraser is ranked sixth in this week’s USTFCCCA women’s national poll, the first poll of the regular-season. Alaska Anchorage, which is idle this week, is ranked fifth in the women's national poll and ninth in the men's poll.

In the women’s West Regional poll, UAA and SFU rank 1-2.  Western Washington and Seattle Pacific rank seventh and eighth.  In the men’s regional poll, Alaska Anchorage ranks second.  Also ranked are Western Washington (6th), Montana State Billings (9th) and Western Oregon (10th).

This weekend's meet is one of just two on the schedule.  The only other meet is at Caldwell, Idaho, where Northwest Nazarene will  compete in the College of Idaho Coyote Invitational.  The meet will begin at 6 p.m.

USTFCCCA POLLS: National (Sept.  18): Men – 9. Alaska Anchorage. Women – 5. Alaska Anchorage, 6. Simon Fraser   West Region (Sept. 17): Men - 1. Chico State; 2. Alaska Anchorage; 3. Humboldt State; 4. Cal Poly Pomona; 5. UC San Diego;  6. Western Washington; 7. Cal Baptist; 8. San Francisco State; 9. Montana State Billings; 10. Western Oregon.  Women - 1. Alaska Anchorage; 2. Simon Fraser; 3. Chico State; 4. Cal State Stanislaus; 5. UC San Diego; 6. Humboldt State; 7. Western Washington; 8. Seattle Pacific; 9. Cal Baptist; 10. Cal State San Bernardino. 

GNAC RED LION ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

Male – Matt Lutz, Western Washington (Fr., Bremerton, WA – Olympic) and  Mitch Burgess, Alaska Fairbanks (Fr., Temecula, CA) ... Lutz and Burgess had Top 15 finishes in events hosted by Division I teams.  Lutz finished 13th in the University of Washington Sundodger, covering the 8,000-meter course in a time of 25:18.00 and leading the Vikings to a third-place team finish in back of Chico State and British Columbia.  Burgess placed ninth in the University of Hawaii Invitational in a 5K time of 16:42.47 to lead the Nanooks to a third-place team finish.

Female – Lindsey Butterworth, Simon Fraser (Sr., North Vancouver, BC – Handworth) finished third in the women’s open division at the University of Washington Sundodger Invitational Saturday with a 6,000-meter time of 21:29.63.  Butterworth led the Clan to a second-place finish one ahead of regionally pre-season top ranked Chico State.

Honorable Mention – Rudy Spencer, Central Washington; Chase Cunningham, Northwest Nazarene; Connie Morgan, Central Washington; Natalie Evans, Northwest Nazarene; Dorothy O’Donnell, Alaska Fairbanks.

FIRST ATHLETE OF THE WEEK AWARD FOR UAF MEN:   Mitch Burgess’ GNAC Athlete of the Week award was the first one for a UAF male cross country athlete in the 13-year history of the conference.  UAF women have won 11.  Burgess shared the award with Western Washington freshman Matt Lutz.

WINNERS: Western Oregon’s Brady Beagley and Annie Wade finished first in the WOU Ash Creek Invitational and Chase Cunningham of Northwest Nazarene won the men’s title in the NNU Roger Curran Invitational.  Beagley led the Wolves to a second-place team posting a time of 18:35 over the  5,900-meter layout.  Wade was clocked in 15:22 over 4,200 meters as the Wolves outpointed Southern Oregon 18-47 for the team title.  Cunningham was clocked in a time of19:58.71 at West Park in Nampa.

LAST WEEK’S RECAPS

WOU Ash Creek Invitational (Sept. 13 at Monmouth): Men – Southern Oregon 23, Western Oregon 38, Mt. Hood CC 79, Warner Pacific 118.  Individuals (5,900 Meters) – 1. Brady Beagley, WOU, 18:35; 5. Zach Holloway, WOU, 19:01; 8. Zeke Wilson, WOU, 19:18; 13. Houston Horner, WOU, 19:38; 16. Sam Naffziger, WOU, 19:48.  Women – Western Oregon 18, Southern Oregon 47, Mt. Hood CC 84, Warner Pacific 87.  Individuals (4,200 Meters) – 1. Annie Wade, WOU, 15:22; 2. Stephanie Stuckey, WOU, 15:56; 4. Bailey Beeson, WOU, 16:06; 5. Jenny Leaf, WOU, 16:16; 10. Natalie Schafer, WOU,  16:38.

NNU Roger Curran Invitational (Sept. 14 at West Park, Nampa): Men - Northwest Nazarene 18, Treasure Valley 37. Individuals (6,000 Meters) -  1. Chase Cunningham, NNU, 19:58.71; 2. Michael Gordon, NNU, 20:30.95; 3. Kaleb Fleenor, NNU, 20:38.86; 5. Andrew Bienapfl, NNU, 21:02.78; 9. Nick Martin, NNU, 22:04.87. Women - Northwest Nazarene 15; Treasure Valley Community College 49. Individuals (4,000 Meters) - 1. Jordan Powell, unat., 14:49.71; 2. Natalie Evans, NNU, 15:13.75; 3. Susanna Fleming, NNU, 15:36.62; 4. Hailey Bradshaw, NNU, 16:05.63; 5. Jaydn Gourley, NNU, 16:14.57; 7. Rebecca Holland, NNU, 17:00.34; 8. Emily Merioles, NNU, 17:16.06; 10. Marie Miller, NNU, 17:22.45.

Hawaii Big Wave Invitational (Sept. 14 at Kanoehe, HI): Men – BYU-Hawaii 42, Hawaii 60, Alaska Fairbanks 63, George Fox 73, Chaminade 130.  Individuals (5,000 Meters) -  1. Fermi Murillo-Villagran, Hawaii, 16:05.76; 9. Mitch Burgess, UAF, 16:42.47; 11. Ross MacDougall, UAF, 16:45.76; 15. Kenneth Brewer, UAF, 16:57.39; 17. Tal Norvell, UAF, 17:02.35.  Women – Hawaii 27, BYU-Hawaii 49, Alaska Fairbanks 56, George Fox 100, Hawaii Hilo 136, Chaminade 185.  Individuals (5,000 Meters) – 1. Fiona McKenna, Hawaii, 18:48.52; 9. Dorothy O’Donnell, UAF, 20:;11.42; 16. Alyson McPhetres, UAF, 20:33.74; 17. Kali Striker, UAF, 20:36.20; 18. Hannah Stevens, UAF, 20:39.36; 19. Nichole Bathe, UAF, 20:41.46.

UW Sundodger Invitational – Open Division (Sept. 14 at Seattle): Men – Chico State 36, British Columbia 60, Western Washington 77, Simon Fraser 146, Puget Sound 182 (8. Seattle Pacific 255, 9. Central Washington 280, 10. Saint Martin’s 287).  Individuals (8,000 Meters) – 1. Dak Reik, unat., 24:42.87; 13. Matt Lutz, WWU, 25:18.00; 17. Nathan Richards, WWU, 25:21.91; 18. Tanner Boyd, WWU, 25:23.95; 21. Isaac Griffith, WWU, 25:28.17; 29. Dylan Peterson, WWU, 25:40.61; 30. Cameron Proceviat, SFU, 25:41.08.  Women -  British Columbia 44, Simon Fraser 64. Chico State 91, Trinity Western 134, Western Washington 147 (6. Seattle Pacific 174, 10. Central Washington 264).  Individuals (6,000 Meters) – 1. Sarah Inglis, Trinity Western, 21:12.82; 3. Lindsey Butterworth, SFU, 21:29.63; 7. Kirsten Allen, SFU, 21:45.74; 11. Katelyn Steen, WWU, 21:53.46; 12. McKayla Fricker, SPU, 21:55.37; 13. Kansas Mackenzie, SFU, 21:57.41; 18. Rebecca Bassett, SFU, 22:09.45.