Wednesday, October 16, 2019

VIKINGS, SEAWOLVES PREVAIL IN BELLINGHAM: In the closest thing to a conference preview meet before next week’s GNAC Cross Country Championships, Western Washington and Alaska Anchorage placed themselves as the teams to beat.

The Vikings prevailed in the field of seven full GNAC teams to compete at the Western Washington Classic on Saturday in Bellingham with both the men’s and women’s teams placing second. The WWU women scored 88 points to beat Alaska Anchorage by five points. The men tallied a score of 96 points to outlast the Seawolves by 19 points. Chico State won the team title in both races.

While Western Washington claimed both team titles, Alaska Anchorage captured both individual titles. Junior Felix Kemboi won the men’s 10,000-meter race for the second year in a row, crossing the finish line in a time of 31:37.6. Junior Nancy Jeptoo won her first collegiate race as she captured the 6,000-meter competition in a time of 21:36.1. Both athletes earned selection as the GNAC Cross Country Athletes of the Week.

AND THEN THERE WERE TWO: Just two of the conference’s 11 teams will race in the weekend prior to the GNAC Championships. Central Washington will compete on Friday at the SFCC Sasquatch Classic in Spokane while Western Oregon is scheduled to compete on Saturday at the Warner Pacific XC Classic in Portland.

WINNER’S CIRCLE: The following GNAC athletes have picked up cross country victories during the 2019 season...

MEN
Felix Kemboi, UAA (Western Washington Classic, Oct. 12, 31:37.6, 10,000m)
Wesley Kirui, UAA (Blue & Gold Run Fest, Aug. 31, 21:59.68, 7,000m)
Tyler Shea, NNU (Ken Garland Invitational, Sept. 28, 25:43.27, 8,000m)

WOMEN
Nikki Aiken, MSUB (SD Mines Hardrocker Classic, Sept. 7, 21:25.40, 5,000m)
Emmah Chelimo, UAA (Blue & Gold Run Fest, Aug. 31, 18:33.12, 5,000m)
Nancy Jeptoo, UAA (Western Washington Classic, Oct. 12, 21:36.1, 6,000m)
Julia LeMar, NNU (Ken Garland Invitational, Sept. 28, 18:13.48, 5,000m)
Kaylee Mitchell, SPU (PLU Invitational, Sept. 21, 21:04.4, 6,000m; Capital Cross Challenge, Sept. 28, 20:30.2, 6,000m)

CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE: For the first time, the GNAC Championships will head east of the Rocky Mountains to Billings, Montana. The conference meet will be held on Saturday, Oct. 26, at Amend Park and is hosted by Montana State Billings. The course is familiar to GNAC teams, though, having hosted the NCAA West Regional Championships in 2014, 2016 and 2018. Western Oregon’s Ash Creek Preserve, which hosted last year’s GNAC Championships, will be the site of the NCAA West Regional Championships on Saturday, Nov. 9.

THIS WEEK'S GNAC ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
MEN
Felix Kemboi, Alaska Anchorage
Junior • Eldoret, Kenya

For the second year in a row, Kemboi was the winner of the men’s 10,000-meter race at the Western Washington Classic. Kemboi cruised with a winning time of 31:37.6, three seconds ahead of Trad Berti of Chico State. Kemboi averaged 5 minutes, 5 seconds per mile.

Also Nominated: Trevor Allen (Central Washington), Andrew Oslin (Saint Martin’s), Thomas Gallagher (Simon Fraser), Andy Muha (Western Oregon), Eric Hamel (Western Washington).

WOMEN
Nancy Jeptoo, Alaska Anchorage
Junior • Eldoret, Kenya

Jeptoo won her first collegiate career race, taking the women’s 6,000-meter race at the Western Washington Invitational in a time of 21:36.1. She finished four seconds ahead of teammate Emmah Chelimo while averaging 5 minutes, 48 seconds per mile.

Also Nominated: Lily Tyrrell (Central Washington), Elaina Hansen (Saint Martin’s), Olivia Willett (Simon Fraser), Grace Knapp (Western Oregon), Jane Barr (Western Washington).

AROUND THE GNAC
ALASKA
• Alaska is in the midst of a two-week break from competition before the GNAC Championships.

• A sixth-place finish in the men’s cardinal race led Alaska in the Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational on Saturday in Salem, Oregon, on Oct. 5.

• The Nanooks finished with a total of 212 points, third among Division II teams in the race. Sophomore Lukash Platil led the way, placing 23rd with a time of 25:37.6 over 8,000 meters.

• Sophomore Jacob Walsh also had a top-50 finish, placing 36th in a time of 25:54.4. Sophomore Jack Matherly came in 53rd with a time of 26:25.2.

• The UAF women finished 16th with a score of 416 points. Senior Alexandra Bergholtz topped the finish list as she placed 25th in a time of 18:45.1 over 5,000 meters.

ALASKA ANCHORAGE
• Alaska Anchorage swept the individual titles and picked up a pair of third-place team finishes at the Western Washington Classic.

• Junior Felix Kemboi was named the GNAC Men’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week after he won the men’s 10,000-meter race for the second year in a row. Kemboi had a time of 31:37.6, four seconds ahead of the runner-up, Trad Berti of Chico State.

• Junior Nancy Jeptoo was named the GNAC Women’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week after she won the women’s 6,000-meter race in a time of 21:36.1. She finished four seconds ahead of her teammate and defending GNAC champion Emmah Chelimo (21:40.5). It was Jeptoo’s first collegiate race victory.

• The men finished with a total of 115 points to place third. Junior Wesley Kirui placed third in a time of 31:50.6. Sophomore Faisal Ibrahim was 45th in 33:25.4 while sophomore Jacob Moos was 46th in 33:28.5.

• The women tallied 93 points for its third-place finish. In addition to Jeptoo and Chelimo, sophomore Joan Kipsanai placed 28th in 22:41.6 and junior Ruth Cvancara placed 38th in 23:09.6.

• The Alaska Anchorage women enter this week ranked No. 16 in the USTFCCCA Division II Coaches Poll, dropping one spot from last week.

• Next up for the Seawolves is the GNAC Cross Country Championships. The men and women are the defending team champions while Kirui and Chelimo are the defending individual champions.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Central Washington closed the regular season by placing 10th in both the men’s and women’s races at the Western Washington Classic.

• The men finished with a score of 247 points. Junior Trevor Allen was the top CWU placer in either race, taking 33rd in the men’s 10,000-meter race. He covered the course in a time of 33:07.3. Junior Henry Milodragovich was the No. 2 runner as he placed 69th in 34:00.4.

• The women wrapped up with a score of 221 points. Junior Lily Tyrrell led the women with her 46th place finish, covering the 6,000-meter course in 23:18.5. Sophomore Molly Mattson was not far behind, placing 52nd in 23:35.2.

• The Wildcats are one of two teams that will compete once more before the GNAC Championships. Central Washington will race at the SFCC Sasquatch Classic on Friday in Spokane.

CONCORDIA
• Concordia completed its regular season with a 13th-place men’s finish and a 17th place women’s finish at the Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational in Salem, Oregon, on Oct. 5.

• The Cavaliers’ men finished with a score of 330 points. Senior Noah Murry led the way with a 42nd-place finish as he covered the 8,000 meters in 26:09. Freshman Josh Scheetz was the other top-50 finisher, placing 47th in 26:18.2.

• The Concordia women finished with a total of 418 points. Senior Gabby Hobson was the lone top-50 finisher, placing 36th with a time of 19:02.5 over 5,000 meters.

• Concordia will be looking to build on a pair of 10th-place finishes at the GNAC Championships. The women finished with a score of 246 points while the men finished with 280 points.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• With the cancellation of last Friday’s GNAC Preview due to inclement weather, Montana State Billings has concluded its regular season. The Yellowjackets will compete next in the GNAC Championships on Oct. 26 on their home course, Amend Park.

• Montana State Billings tested itself in a big meet setting Saturday, placing 21st in the men’s race and 31st in the women’s race at the Roy Griak Invitational in St. Paul, Minnesota on September 28.

• The men finished with a score of 610 points. Senior Ronald Venema was the top placer for the Yellowjackets, placing 117th in a time of 28:12.8 over 8,000 meters. Freshman Bryant Edgerton was the No. 2 runner, placing 140th in a time of 28:32.

• In the women’s 6,000-meter race, senior Nikki Aiken scored a top-100 finish as she placed 54th in a time of 23:55.5. Sophomore Kailee Stoppel was the No. 2 runner for the Yellowjackets, placing 210th in a time of 26:12.5.

• Montana State Billings placed eighth in both the men’s and women’s races at the 2018 GNAC Championships. The men finished with a score of 217 points while the women scored 242 points.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• The Nighthawks finished the regular season strong with a fifth-place women’s team finish and a sixth-place men’s team finish at the Western Washington Classic.

• The NNU women finished with a score of 134 points, fourth out of the seven GNAC teams in the meet. Freshman Julia LeMar led the way with the team’s lone top-20 finish, placing 20th in a time of 22:33.9 over 6,000 meters.

• Junior Annalisa Hamilton finished 24th in a time of 22:37.6. Senior Sierra Manzer placed 32nd in 22:57.2 while senior Bethany Danner placed 35th in a time of 23:05.2.

• The Nighthawks’ men tallied a score of 161 points to tie with Western Oregon, but won the sixth-place tiebreaker 3-2. Northwest Nazarene placed two runners in the top-25 with sophomore Tyler Shea finishing 20th in a time of 32:44.9 over 10,000 meters and senior Godfrey Kemboi placing 24th in 32:50.

• Northwest Nazarene will be looking to build on a pair of sixth-place finishes at next week’s GNAC Championships. The men finished with a score of 169 points in 2018 while the women finished with 174 points.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• Saint Martin’s closed out the regular season with 11th-place finishes in both the men’s and women’s races at the Western Washington Classic.

• The SMU men finished with a team score of 318 points. Sophomore Andrew Oslin led the way as he placed 51st over the 10,000 meters in a time of 33:35.6. Junior Marcus Rice was the Saints’ No. 2 runner, placing 58th in 33:48.6.

• The women finished with a score of 343 points. Freshman Elaina Hansen was the top runner for the Saints, placing 81st in a time of 24:37.5 over 6,000 meters.

• Saint Martin’s is looking to build on a pair of 11th-place finishes at next week’s GNAC Championships. The Saints’ men finished with 300 points while the women scored 335 points.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
• The Falcons posted a pair of strong team efforts to close the regular season, placing fourth in the women’s race and eighth in the men’s race at the Western Washington Classic.

• The SPU women had a pair of top-10 finishers to lead the way to a team score of 111 points. Junior Dania Holmberg placed fifth, third out of GNAC runners, as she covered the 6,000-meter course in 22:01.5. Senior Kate Lilly placed eighth in a time of 22:14.9.

• All five scoring runners were in the top-50. Senior Katherine Walter was 34th in a time of 23:03.3 while freshman Kelsey Washenberger rounded out the top-40, placing 39th in 23:12.1.

• Seattle Pacific’s men finished with a score of 188 points to place fifth of the seven GNAC teams in the field. Junior Colin Bouton led the way as he placed 30th with a time of 32:58.9 over the 10,000 meters. Sophomore Colby Otero was 40th in a time of 33:20.5.

• The Seattle Pacific women retained their No. 7 position in the USTFCCCA Division II Coaches Poll for the third consecutive week. The Falcons have ranked in the top-10 all season.

• Seattle Pacific was the preseason favorite in the women’s coaches poll after placing third at the 2018 GNAC Championships with a score of 64 points. The men look to build on last year’s seventh-place finish with 163 points.

SIMON FRASER
• Simon Fraser splits its squad last week, sending some athletes to the Lewis Crossover in Romeoville, Illinois and others to the Western Washington Classic.

• The SFU women performed well at the Lewis Crossover, placing eighth out of 36 teams with a score of 288 points. Junior Olivia Willett led the way as she placed 22nd with a time of 23:17.7. Junior Mairin Shields-Brown placed 64th in a time of 23:51.3.

• The SFU men placed 17th out of 34 teams at the Lewis Crossover with a score of 517 points. Junior Thomas Gallagher was the top runner, placing 81st in a time of 26:39.9 over 8,000 meters.

• Simon Fraser was incomplete at the Western Washington Classic. Sophomore Graeme Roberts led the men as he placed 53rd in a time of 33:38.5 over 10,000 meters. Senior Amy Morris was top women’s runner, placing 72nd with a time of 24:21.9.

• Both the Simon Fraser men and women hope to challenge for titles at the GNAC Championships. The Clan men placed second last year with a score of 54 points while the women placed second with 60 points.

WESTERN OREGON
• Western Oregon posted a seventh-place men’s team finish and a ninth-place women’s team at the Western Washington Classic.

• The WOU men tied for sixth with Northwest Nazarene at 161 points, but lost the tiebreaker 3-2. Junior Andy Muha led the way for the Wolves, placing 14th with a time of 32:35 over 10,000 meters. He was the No. 3 finisher from the GNAC.

• Senior Justin Crosswhite followed with a 28th-place finish in a time of 32:56.2. Senior Sawyer Heckard placed 42nd with a time of 33:22.8.

• Western Oregon’s women finished with a score of 201 points and were fifth among the seven GNAC teams competing in the meet. Senior Grace Knapp was Wolves’ top finisher, placing 18th in a time of 22:30.8 over 6,000 meters. She was sixth among GNAC finishers.

• Junior Olivia Jimenez was the No. 2 runner for the WOU women, placing 42nd in a time of 23:15.3. Senior Cassie McKinney rounded out the top-50 placers as she finished 49th in 23:31.2.

• Western Oregon is one of two teams that will compete in the final weekend before the GNAC Championships. The Wolves will race at the Warner Pacific XC Classic on Saturday in Portland.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• There was no place like home for the Vikings as the men and women both notched second-place finishes at their own Western Washington Classic on Saturday.

• The Western Washington women scored a total of 88 points to lead all GNAC teams, five points ahead of third-place Alaska Anchorage. Junior Jane Barr led the charge as she placed ninth with a time of 22:17.5. She placed fifth among GNAC runners.

• The Vikings placed all five scoring runners in the top-30. Sophomore Tovah Swartz-Ireland placed 21st in 22:34.3. Senior Tracy Melville was 25th in 22:38.1, senior Sophia Galvez followed in 26th in 22:40.4 and sophomore Rebecca Lehman was 27th in 22:41.2.

• The WWU men scored 96 points to best third-place Alaska Anchorage by 19 points. Junior Eric Hamel led the way, placing 15th with a time of 32:38.1 over 10,000 meters. He was the fourth-place runner from the GNAC.

• Senior Liam Cossette placed 26th in a time of 32:54.2 while senior James Jasperson was right behind in 27th place and a time of 32:55.1. Junior Edward Kiolbasa was 32nd in a time of 33:03.9.

• The Western Washington women climbed four spots in this week’s USTFCCCA Division II Coaches Poll to No. 14, the team’s highest national ranking of the season.

• The Vikings also hope to make a charge at both the men’s and women’s titles at the GNAC Championships. The WWU men placed third in 2018 with a score of 60 points while the women placed fourth with 86 points.