Thursday, September 20, 2018

GREAT FIRST IMPRESSIONS: It was a great weekend for the freshmen as four GNAC squads started competition this weekend. A number of those first-year harriers made the most of their collegiate debuts.

A pair of freshmen picked up victories at the CWU Invitational on Saturday, which earned both athletes selection as the GNAC Cross Country Athletes of the Week. Central Washington’s Turlan Morlan excelled on the Wildcats’ home course, winning the men’s 7,000-meter race in 22:37. He averaged 5:11 per mile in his debut and finished 12 seconds ahead of second-place Eric Hamel of Western Washington.

In the women’s race, Seattle Pacific freshman Kaylee Mitchell was impressive in her debut as she covered the 5,000-meter course in 18:03. She averaged 5:48 per mile as she beat Central Washington senior Alexa Shindruk by 22 seconds.

Morlan was not the only freshman who made a splash in the CWU Invitational men’s race. Western Washington’s Bentley Wilson placed third in 22:55 while Ian Fay was fourth in 22:59. Seattle Pacific freshman Colby Otero also notched a top-10 finish, placing seventh in 23:17.

As the USD Invite in San Diego, Simon Fraser saw a pair of freshmen make great impressions in their first collegiate races. Pierre-Louis Detourbe finished third in the men’s race, backing a top-three sweep for the Clan as he covered the 8,000-meter course in 26:13. Senior Rowan Doherty was the individual winner with a time of 25:43.

Freshman Sophia Kaiser led the SFU women in her debut, placing third with a time of 22:38.7 over 6,000 meters.

BREAKING THE TAPE: The list of GNAC athletes who have won races during the 2018 season...

MEN
• Rowan Doherty (SFU): USD Invite, Sept. 15 (8,000 meters).
• Hunter Hutton (WOU): Linfield Harrier Classic, Aug. 31 (19:47.0, 6,000 meters).
• Wesley Kirui (UAA): New Balance Skinny Raven Classic, Sept. 8 (21:07.2, 7,000 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
• Kaylee Mitchell (SPU): CWU Invitational, 18:03 (5,000 meters).

THIS WEEK'S GNAC ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
MEN
Turlan Morlan, Central Washington
Freshman • Spokane, Wash.

Running in his first collegiate meet, Morlan took advantage of the home course to win the CWU Invitational against almost exclusively GNAC competition. He covered the 7,000-meter course in 22:37, averaging 5:11 per mile.

Also Nominated: Ivan Colmenero (Montana State Billings), Rowan Doherty (Simon Fraser), Eric Hamel (Western Washington).

WOMEN
Kaylee Mitchell, Seattle Pacific
Freshman • Salem, Ore.

Mitchell started her collegiate career with a victory, winning the CWU Invitational on Saturday. She covered the 5,000-meter course in 18:03, beating veteran Alexa Shindruk of Central Washington by 22 seconds. Mitchell averaged 5:48 per mile as she led the Falcons to the team title.

Also Nominated: Nikki Aiken (Montana State Billings), Talia Dreicer (Western Washington).

AROUND THE GNAC
ALASKA
LAST WEEK: No Meet
THIS WEEK: Sept. 22 ar Ken Garland Invitational

• Alaska did not compete last weekend. The Nanooks return to the course this Saturday at Saint Martin’s Ken Garland Classic.

• Alaska opened the season on Sept. 8, taking second in a pair of dual races against Alaska Anchorage as part of the New Balance Skinny Raven Classic.

• The Nanooks’ women were led by senior Alexandra Bergholtz, who placed eighth in the 6,000-meter race in 22:39.2. Freshman Anja Maijala finished two places back in eighth with a time of 23:00.3 in her collegiate debut.

• Junior Lukash Platil paced the UAA men in the 7,000-meter race as he placed eighth in a time of 22:38.4. Tristan Sayre was the Nanooks’ No. 2 runner, placing 14th in a time of 23:42.9.

ALASKA ANCHORAGE
LAST WEEK: No Meet
THIS WEEK: Sept. 22 at UNLV Invitational
• Alaska Anchorage did not compete last week. The Seawolves travel to Las Vegas to race in the UNLV Invitational on Saturday.

• Alaska Anchorage posted a pair of perfect 15-point team scores in a dual meet race over Alaska at the New Balance Skinny Raven Classic to open the 2018 season.

• Junior Emmah Chelimo placed second in the women’s 6,000-meter race, covering the course in 21:19.6. She averaged 4:54 per mile. Chelimo was beaten in the race by Rosie Brennan, who was a member of the 2018 U.S. Olympic Team in Nordic skiing.

• Junior Wesley Kirui, running in his first race for UAA, won the men’s 7,000-meter race in 21:07.2 to lead a top-five sweep for the Seawolves. Sophomore Felix Kemboi was second in 21:09.4 while senior Jorge Sanchez was third in 22:10.7.

• The Seawolves’ men moved up one spot in this week’s USTFCCCA Division II Coaches Poll. The UAA women remained ranked at No. 21.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
LAST WEEK: Sept. 15 at CWU Invitational
Men - 2nd of 3, 52 pts.  Women - 3rd of 3, 52 pts.
THIS WEEK: Sept. 22 at Ken Garland Classic

• Central Washington posted a pair of identical 52-point team scores as the Wildcats opened the season at home in the CWU Invitational.

• Freshman Turlan Morlan was named the GNAC Men’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week after he won his first collegiate race. Morlan covered the 7,000-meter course in 22:37, finishing 12 seconds ahead of Western Washington’s Eric Hamel. Senior Corbin Carlton was the CWU men’s other top-10 finisher, placing ninth in 23:23.

• Senior Alexa Shindruk finished second in her first race of the season, covering the women’s 5,000-meter course in 18:25. Sophomore Nicole Soleim finished eighth in 19:15 and freshman Madison Child was 10th in 19:27.

• Central Washington returns to competition on Saturday, participating in the Gen Garland Classic in Lacey, Wash.

CONCORDIA
LAST WEEK: No Meet
THIS WEEK: No Meet

• Concordia did not compete last week and will not compete again until the Willamette Charles Bowles Invitational on Sat., Sept. 29.

• 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. 15 at MSU Cross Country Classic
Men - 5th of 6, 132 pts.  Women - 14th of 6, 129 pts.
THIS WEEK: Sept. 21 at Gage McSpadden Memorial Invitational

• Montana State Billings tested itself against Division I competition at the MSU Cross Country Classic in Bozeman, Mont.

• The MSUB women placed fourth with a total of 129 points, one point ahead of Carroll. Junior Nikki Aiken led the Yellowjackets, placing 21st in 18:38.66 over the 5,000-meter course. Sophomore Ruth Chepsat finished 26th in a time of 18:58.63.

• The MSUB men placed just behind Carroll in fifth place with 134 points. Senior Ivan Colmenero was the top Yellowjackets’ finisher, placing 22nd in 26:25.09 over 8,000 meters. Junior Ronald Venema also finished in the top-30, placing 29th in 26:58.70.

• The Yellowjackets are right back at it on Friday, participating in the Gage McSpadden Memorial Invitational in Spearfish, S.D.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
LAST WEEK: No Meet
THIS WEEK: Sept. 21 at Eastern Oregon Invitational

• Northwest Nazarene did not compete last week. The Nighthawks travel to Oregon on Friday to compete at the Eastern Oregon Invitational in La Grande.

• Opening the 2018 season against Division I competition, Northwest Nazarene scored a pair of fourth-place team finishes at the CSI Invitational on Sept. 7 in Twin Falls, Idaho.

• Junior Godfrey Kemboi led the Nighthawks in the men’s 7,000-meter race, placing sixth in a time of 23:07.62. Freshman Tyler Shea finished 22nd in his collegiate debut with a time of 24:03.97.

• Junior Bethany Danner was NNU’s top women’s placer. She finished in 15th place as she covered the 5,000-meter course in 20:01.17. Freshman Kalen Johnson finished 18th in her college premiere with a time of 20:16.15.

• On Sept. 7, Danny Bowman was announced as the Nighthawks’ new head cross country and track and field coach. A 2005 graduate of Northwest Nazarene, Bowman returns after four seasons as the head coach at Concordia-Irvine.

SAINT MARTIN’S
LAST WEEK: No Meet
THIS WEEK: Sept. 22 at Ken Garland Classic

• Saint Martin’s last raced on Sept. 1, placing third in both the men’s and women’s races at the Puget Sound Invitational.

• Senior Lindsey Dorney placed second in the meet. She covered the 6,000-meter course in a time of 24:01. She was 20 seconds behind the winner, Emery Bradlina of Puget Sound. Freshman Alyssa Robinson placed ninth in 26:28.

• Freshman Andrew Oslin led the SMU men in his first collegiate meet, placing fourth in a time of 27:51 over 8,000 meters. Junior Colton Buster was not far behind, placing 10th in 28:18.

• The Saints do not compete again until Sat., Sept. 22, when they host the Ken Garland Classic. The meet is named in memory of the school’s longtime baseball coach, who passed away unexpectedly last spring.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
LAST WEEK: Sept. 15 at CWU Invitational
Men - 3rd of 3, 55 pts.  Women - 1st of 3, 24 pts.
THIS WEEK: No Meet

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

• Freshman Kaylee Mitchell was named the GNAC Women’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week after she 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.

• Seattle Pacific returns to competition on Sat., Sept. 29, competing at the Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational in Salem, Ore.

SIMON FRASER
LAST WEEK: Sept. 15 at USD Invitational
Men - 1st of 5, 21 pts.  Women - 2nd of 5, 47 pts.
THIS WEEK: No Meet

• Simon Fraser started the 2018 season off strong, winning the men’s race and taking second in the women’s race at the USD Invitational.

• 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.

• Both Simon Fraser teams continue to be ranked in the first USTFCCCA Division II Top-25 Polls of the regular season. The Clan women are No. 9, up two places from the preseason poll. The SFU men are up one spot to No. 15.

• Simon Fraser will not compete again until Sat., Sept. 29, traveling to Palo Alto, Calif., for the Stanford Invitational.

WESTERN OREGON
LAST WEEK: No Meet
THIS WEEK: Sept. 21 at SF State Invitational

• Western Oregon did not race last weekend. The Wolves return to competition this Friday at the SF State Invitational at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park.

• Running on its home course on Sept. 7, Western Oregon was a team winner in both the men’s and women’s races at the Ash Creek Invitational.

•The Wolves’ men placed 11 runners in the top-15 and finished with a score of 21 points. Senior Dustin Nading was named the GNAC Men’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week after he 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.

• The WOU women won with a score of 42 points. Freshman Kaylin Cantu led the Wolves with a third-place finish, covering the 5,000-meter course in a time of 19:57.1. Sophomore Shayla Solomon was seventh in a time of 20:28.6. Junior Rachel Bayly finished eighth in 20:37.7 and senior Cassie McKinney placed ninth in 20:44.4.

• Western Oregon moved up three spots to No. 10 in the first USTFCCCA Division II Men’s Top-25 Poll of the regular season.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
LAST WEEK: Sept. 15 at CWU Invitational
Men - 1st of 3, 20 pts.  Women - 2nd of 3, 47 pts.
THIS WEEK: Sept. 22 at Ken Garland Classic

• It was a strong start to the season for Western Washington, winning the team title for the men and finished second for the women at the CWU Invitational.

• Sophomore Eric Hamel led all Western Washington finishers, taking second place in the men’s 7,000-meter race in a time of 22:49. He led a group of Vikings’ runners that placed second through six and accounted for a gap of just 19 seconds between the five scoring runners.

• Freshman Bentley Wilson finished third in a time of 22:55 while fellow first-year harrier Ian Fay was fourth in 22:59. Sophomore Edward Kiolbasa placed fifth in 23:01 while junior Kyler Sager rounded out the scoring five, placing sixth in a time of 23:08.

• Junior Talia Dreicer was the leading WWU runner in the women’s race. She placed sixth while covering the 5,000-meter course in 19:02. Junior Sophia Galvez finished seventh in 19:07 while sophomore Jane Barr placed ninth in a time of 19:26.

• The Western Washington men have emerged at No. 25 in the first USTFCCCA Division II Coaches Poll of the regular season. It is one of four GNAC teams ranked in the top-25.

• The Vikings are right back in competition this weekend, racing at the Ken Garland Classic on Saturday in Lacey, Wash.