Thursday, September 27, 2018

VIKING VENGEANCE: In its second meet of the season, Western Washington put together a pair of solid performances with young squads to win the Ken Garland Invitational in Lacey, Washington.

The Vikings won the 11-team men’s race with a perfect score of 15 points. There was a mere 23 seconds between the team’s No. 1 and No. 5 players. Freshman Ian Fay was selected as the Men’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week, covering the 8,000-meter course in a time of 26:03.50. Of the five, three of them are below senior standing.

Western Washington’s women scored 21 points to easily win the team competition. The Vikings were led by freshman Rebecca Lehman, who earned GNAC Women’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week accolades. She ran 18:15.19 over the 5,000-meter course and had a 15-second cushion on the second-place finisher.

SEAWOLVES MAKE MOST OF VEGAS TRIP: Alaska Anchorage performed well against a small field of Division I teams, winning both the men’s and women’s races at the UNLV Invitational. The UAA men finished just short of a perfect score with 18 points, led by the victory by Wesley Kiriu in a time of 26:10.0. Felix Kemboi was neck-and-neck with Kiriu, placing second in 26:10.1.

The Alaska Anchorage women scored 26 points to win the team title, 31 points ahead of host UNLV. Emmah Chelimo took the individual victory as she covered the 5,000-meter course in 18:54.7 while Nancy Jeptoo placed second in 18:58.3.

NIGHTHAWKS SWOOP IN FOR WINS: Northwest Nazarene was successful in picking up both the individual titles while the NNU men took the team win at the EOU Invitational on Friday in La Grande, Oregon. The Nighthawks’ men scored 30 points for the victory, just two points ahead of College of Idaho. Junior Godfrey Kemboi won the race as he covered the 8,000-meter course in 26:13.91, two seconds ahead of College of Idaho’s Alex Martin.

The NNU women placed second with a score of 34 points, two points behind College of Idaho. Bethany Danner was the individual winner as she covered the 5,000-meter course in a time of 19:17.11.

BREAKING THE TAPE: A total of 10 GNAC athletes have earned victories in 11 races during the 2018 season...

MEN
• Rowan Doherty (SFU): USD Invite, Sept. 15 (25:23, 8,000 meters).
• Ian Fay (WWU): Ken Garland Invitational, Sept. 22 (26:03.50, 8,000 meters).
• Hunter Hutton (WOU): Linfield Harrier Classic, Aug. 31 (19:47.0, 6,000 meters).
• Godfrey Kemboi (NNU): EOU Invitational, Sept. 21 (26:13.91, 8,000 meters).
• Wesley Kirui (UAA): New Balance Skinny Raven Classic, Sept. 8 (21:07.2, 7,000 meters); UNLV Invitational, Sept. 22 (26:10.0, 8,000 meters).
• Turlan Morlan (CWU): CWU Invitational, Sept. 15 (7,000 meters).
• Dustin Nading (WOU): Ash Creek Invitational, Sept. 7 (21:02.5, 7,000 meters).

WOMEN
• Emmah Chelimo (UAA): UNLV Invitational, Sept. 22 (18:54.7, 5,000 meters).
• Bethany Danner (NNU): EOU Invitational, Sept. 21 (19:11.7, 5,000 meters).
• Rebecca Lehman (WWU): Ken Garland Invitational, Sept. 22 (18:15.19, 5,000 meters).
• Kaylee Mitchell (SPU): CWU Invitational, Sept. 15, (18:03, 5,000 meters).

THIS WEEK'S GNAC ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
MEN
Ian Fay, Western Washington
Freshman • Duvall, Wash.

Fay led Western Washington to a perfect 15-point victory at the Saint Martin’s Ken Garland Classic on Saturday. Fay won by covering the 8,000-meter course in 26:03.50, averaging 5:14 per mile. He finished six seconds ahead of teammate Jadon Olson.

Also Nominated: Wesley Kirui (Alaska Anchorage), Ivan Colmenero (Montana State Billings), Godfrey Kemboi (Northwest Nazarene).

WOMEN
Rebecca Lehman, Western Washington
Freshman • Spokane Valley, Wash.

Lehman made it a freshman sweep for the Vikings as she won the Saint Martin’s Ken Garland Invitational and led Western Washington to the team title. She covered the 5,000-meter course in 18:15.19, averaging 5:54 per mile. Lehman finished 15 seconds ahead of second-place Micaela Kostecka of Spokane CC as WWU scored 21 points to win the team title.

Also Nominated: Emmah Chelimo (Alaska Anchorage), Nikki Aiken (Montana State Billings), Bethany Danner (Northwest Nazarene), Kaylin Cantu (Western Oregon).

ALASKA
LAST WEEK: Sept. 22 at Ken Garland Invitational
Men - Incomplete  Women - 6th of 11, 173 pts.
THIS WEEK: No Meet

• After two weeks, Alaska returned to competition at the Ken Garland Invitational. The Nanooks’ women finished sixth while the men were incomplete with just four athletes competing.

• Junior Alexandra Bergholtz led all Alaska runners as she placed ninth in the women’s 5,000-meter race in a time of 18:58.62. She finished sixth among GNAC runners and was the first conference runner not from Western Washington to finish.

• Junior Kati Roivas was the other UAF runner to finish in the top-30, placing 29th in a time of 20:18.46.

• Freshman Zephan Ozturgut led the four-man Alaska team in the men’s 8,000-meter race, placing 52nd in a time of 28:47.84. Sophomore Josiah Alverts finished 66th in a time of 29:09.59.

• Alaska will compete again on Sat., Oct. 6, participating in the Emerald City Open in Seattle.

ALASKA ANCHORAGE
LAST WEEK: Sept. 22 at UNLV Invitational
Men - 1st of 5, 18 pts.  Women - 1st of 6, 26 pts.
THIS WEEK: No Meet

• Alaska Anchorage was the class of the competition amidst the field of Division I runners at the UNLV Invitational.

• The Seawolves’ men finished just short of a perfect score, sweeping the top-four places for a final score of 18 points. The UAA women placed four top-runners in the top-seven to score the team victory with 26 points.

• In his second race for the Seawolves, junior Wesley Kirui finished just ahead of teammate Felix Kemboi to take the individual title with a time of 26:10.0 over 8,000 meters. Kemboi was clocked in a time of 26:10.1.

• Senior Jorge Sanchez finished third in the race with a time of 26:51.7 while sophomore Nickson Koech placed fourth with a time of 26:55.8.

• Junior Emmah Chelimo won her first race as a UAA cross country runner, covering the women’s 5,000-meter course in a time of 18:54.7, averaging 6:05 per mile. Sophomore Nancy Jeptoo placed second in a time of 18:58.3.

• Senior Zennah Jepchumba placed sixth place in a time of 19:39.0 while senior Danielle McCormick finished seventh with a time of 19:41.6.

• Both the Alaska Anchorage men and women continue to be ranked in the USTFCCCA Division II Coaches Polls. The UAA women are ranked seventh for the second consecutive week while the Seawolves’ men are ranked No. 20.

• Alaska Anchorage will not compete again until Sat., Oct. 20, at the Western Washington Classic in Bellingham. It will be the Seawolves’ last race prior to the GNAC Championships.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
LAST WEEK: Sept. 22 at Ken Garland Classic
Men - Incomplete  Women - 5th of 11, 147 pts.
THIS WEEK: Oct. 13 at Inland Empire Championships

• The Central Washington women finished fifth to lead all GNAC teams at the Ken Garland Classic. The Wildcats’ men were incomplete with only two runners competing.

• Freshman Ashley Fahey led the Wildcats’ women, finishing in 24th place with a time of 20:04.78 over the 5,000-meter course. Sophomore Madi Shinn placed 27th in a time of 20:12.29.

• Freshman Mateo Rivera led the two-man Central Washington team as he placed 49th in a time of 28:36.63 over the 8,000-meter course. Senior Josh Boston was the other runner, placing 67th in a time of 29:10.21.

• Central Washington will participate in its third meet in as many weeks on Saturday, taking part in the Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational in Salem, Ore.

CONCORDIA
LAST WEEK: No Meet
THIS WEEK: Sept. 29 at Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational

• After a three-week break from competition, Concordia will return to the course on Saturday at the Willamette Charles Bowles Invitational.

• Concordia saw its women’s team take fourth place and the men place fifth in a preview of the GNAC Championships course at the Ash Creek Invitational on Sept. 7.

• The Cavaliers’ women placed three runners in the top-20 in the 5,000-meter race. Junior Bailey Fjelstul led the way with her 13th place in a time of 21:05.8 while junior Gabby Hobson was close behind in 14th place in 21:05.9. Junior Kaitlyn Bailly finished in 19th place in 21:41.0.

• Junior Noah Murry was Concordia’s top placer in the men’s 7,000-meter race, taking 20th in a time of 23:15.6. Freshman Josh Allen was 37th in 24:42.4 while freshman Max Rotar was 38th in 24:44.6.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
LAST WEEK: Sept. 21 at Gage McSpadden Memorial
Men - 2nd of 3, 50 pts.  Women - 2nd of 3, 56 pts.
THIS WEEK: Sept. 29 at Roy Griak Invitational

• Montana State Billings finished second out of three teams in both the men’s and women’s team competitions at the Gage McSpadden Memorial Invitational.

• Junior Nikki Aiken was the top Yellowjackets’ finisher in either race, placing fourth in the women’s 5,000-meter race in 20:07.2. She broke up a string of Black Hills State runners that claimed the other top-eight places in the meet. Junior Ruth Chepsat was the other MSUB top-10 placer, finishing ninth in a time of 20:35.2.

• Senior Ivan Colmenero led the MSUB men, placing sixth in the 8,000-meter race in a time of 27:46.6. Sophomore Carson Jessop had the other top-10 finish, placing 10th in a time of 28:10.4.

• After running three meets fairly close to home, the Yellowjackets will travel to St. Paul, Minn., to compete in the Roy Griak Invitational on Saturday.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
LAST WEEK: Sept. 21 at Eastern Oregon Invitational
Men - 1st of 3, 30 pts.  Women - 2nd of 3, 34 pts.
THIS WEEK: Oct. 13 at Inland Empire Championships

• It was a solid meet for Northwest Nazarene last Friday as the Nighthawks’ men won and the women placed second, both in close races, at the Eastern Oregon Invitational.

• Junior Godfrey Kemboi won the second race of his NNU career as he covered the 8,000-meter course in 26:13.91. He finished just two seconds ahead of Alex Martin of the College of Idaho.

• The NNU men placed four runners in the top-10 in the race. Senior Nick Hamilton finished third in a time of 26:40.59. Freshman Tyler Shea was seventh in 27:04.28 and freshman Treyson Conley was eighth in 27:10.61.

• Junior Bethany Danner won the first race of her Northwest Nazarene career, covering the 5,000-meter course in a time of 19:17.11. She finished eight seconds ahead of second-place Kaitlyn Schut of College of Idaho.

• Freshman Kalen Johnson finished third for the Nighthawks with a time of 19:28.26. Sophomore Anna Hamilton finished fourth in a time of 19:39.78 as the Nighthawks placed three runners in the top-four.

• Northwest Nazarene will not compete again until Sat., Oct. 13, competing at the Inland Empire Championships in Lewiston, Idaho.

SAINT MARTIN’S
LAST WEEK: Sept. 22 at Ken Garland Classic
Men - 5th of 11, 166 pts.  Women - 9th of 11, 218 pts.
THIS WEEK: Sept. 29 at Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational

• Saint Martin’s welcomed a sizeable field of small college teams, including four GNAC teams, to the Ken Garland Classic on Saturday. The SMU men placed fifth, second among GNAC teams, while the women placed ninth.

• Freshman Andrew Oslin led the solid SMU men’s team finish as he placed 37th in a time of 28:02.64. Junior Colton Buster was five places behind, finishing 42nd in a time of 28:13.74. There was a gap of 1 minute, 19 seconds between the Saints’ top-five runners.

• Senior Lindsey Dorney led the Saint Martin’s women and was the top-placing SMU athlete in both races. Dorney placed 30th as she covered the 5,000-meter course in 20:20.81. Junior Yeshi Vaughan placed 53rd in 21:25.85 and freshman Alyssa Robinson placed 54th in 21:32.54.

• The Ken Garland Classic, formerly the SMU Classic, was named in memory of the school’s longtime baseball coach, who passed away unexpectedly last spring.

• Saint Martin’s will not compete again until Sat., Oct. 13, participating in the Warner Pacific CC Classic in Portland.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
LAST WEEK: No Meet
THIS WEEK: No Meet

• Seattle Pacific is in the midst in a three-week break from competition. The Falcons return to the course on Sat., Oct. 6, competing in the Emerald City Open.

• Seattle Pacific opened its 2018 season at the CWU Invitational on Sept. 15, with the Falcons’ women posting the team victory with 24 points.

• Freshman Kaylee Mitchell won her first collegiate race. She covered the 5,000-meter course in 18:03, finishing 22 seconds ahead of Central Washington’s Alexa Shindruk.

• The Falcons claimed four of the top-five spots in the women’s race. Junior Kate Lilly was third in 18:43. Sophomore Dania Holmberg placed fourth in 18:54 and junior Katherine Walter was fifth in 19:00.

• The Falcons’ men placed third out of the three teams in the meet with 65 points. Freshman Colby Otero was SPU’s lone top-10 finisher, placing seventh in a time of 23:17 for 7,000 meters. Sophomore Elius Graff finished 11th in 23:47.

SIMON FRASER
LAST WEEK: No Meet
THIS WEEK: Sept. 29 at Stanford Invitational

• After a very strong start to the season, Simon Fraser will test itself this weekend at the Stanford Invitational.

• Simon Fraser started the year by winning the men’s race and taking second in the women’s race at the USD Invitational on Sept. 15.

• Senior Rowan Doherty opened his campaign off with an individual victory, covering the men’s 8,000 meters in 25:23. Senior teammate Sean Miller was second in 25:51 while freshman Pierre-Louis Detourbe finished third in 26:13. All five of SFU’s scoring runners placed in the top-11 with a gap of 54 seconds.

• Freshman Sophia Kaiser led the Clan in her collegiate debut. She placed third as she covered the 6,000-meter course in 22:38.7. Senior Addy Townsend placed fifth in a time of 22:51.9 while sophomore Olivia Willett was seventh in 23:27.2.

• In this week’s USTFCCCA Division II Coaches Poll, the Simon Fraser women are No. 9 for the second consecutive week while the SFU men jumped one spot to No. 14.

WESTERN OREGON
LAST WEEK: Sept. 21 at SF State Invitational
Men - Did Not Compete  Women - 5th of 12, 146 pts.
THIS WEEK: Sept. 29 at Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational

• Western Oregon sent its women’s team to the Bay Area and the Wolves returned home with a fifth-place team finish at the SF State Invitational.

• Freshman Kailyn Cantu had the lone top-10 finish for the Wolves, leading the team with a ninth-place finish. Cantu covered the 6,000-meter course in a time of  23:03.1.

• Senior Cassie McKinney finished in 38th place in a time of 24:10.3 while senior Toni Gowen was one second behind in 39th place in 24:11.3.

•The Wolves’ men placed 11 runners in the top-15 and finished with a score of 21 points at the Ash Creek Invitational on Sept. 7. Senior Dustin Nading won the 7,000-meter race in a time of 21:02.5, averaging 4:50 per mile. Nading was four seconds better than teammate Tyler Jones. The senior placed second in 21:06.8.

• Western Oregon’s men dropped one place in this week’s USTFCCCA Division II Coaches Poll, checking in at No. 11.

• The Wolves are expected to field both men’s and women’s teams at the Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational this Saturday in Salem.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
LAST WEEK: Sept. 22 at Ken Garland Classic
Men - 1st of 11, 15 pts.  Women - 1st of 11, 21 pts.
THIS WEEK: No Meet

• Western Washington dominated the competition at the Ken Garland Invitational. The Vikings’ men swept the top-five places and seven of the top eight spots for a perfect 15-point score. The WWU women placed five in the top seven to win with a score of 21 points.

• Freshman Ian Fay was named the GNAC Men’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week after he won the men’s 8,000-meter race in a time of 26:03.50, averaging 5 minutes, 14 seconds per mile. There was just a 23-second gap between the team’s top-five runners.

• Senior Jadon Olson placed second with a time of 26:09.86. Senior Kyler Sager finished third in 26:11.47, junior James Jasperson was fourth in 26:14.74 and sophomore Eric Hamel placed fifth in a time of 26:25.07.

• Freshman Rebecca Lehman was named the GNAC Women’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week after she won the women’s 5,000-meter race in a time of 18:15.19. She averaged 5:54 per mile and finished 15 seconds ahead of second-place Michaela Kostecka of Spokane CC.

• Freshman Shawnee Konrad finished third for the Vikings in a time of 18:37.84. Sophomore Jane Barr was one-second behind in fourth place at 18:38.03. Junior Talia Dreicer was sixth in 18:45.91 and senior Tracy Melville was seventh in 18:46.17.

• The Western Washington men are ranked No. 25 in the USFTCCCA Division II Coaches Poll for the second straight week.

• Western Washington will not race this week. The Vikings return to competition at the Emerald City Open on Sat., Oct. 6.