Wednesday, October 10, 2018

GNAC TEAMS PERFORM WELL AT CONFERENCE CROSSOVER: The Division II Conference Crossover at Lewis University in Romeoville, Ill., is a great proving ground for teams with national meet aspirations. The three teams that traveled east from the GNAC certainly proved they have what it takes to compete at the highest levels.

Simon Fraser, in particular, showed their potential. The Clan women finished second in the 28-team field with a score of 146 points, finishing behind perennial Division II power Western State. Freshman Sophia Kaiser led the way, finishing in 10th place with a time a 22:21.90 that earned her GNAC Women’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week honors. Sophomore Olivia Willett finished 15th in a time of 22:29.20.

The Clan men were just as strong, finishing third out of 27 teams with a score of 127 points. Senior Rowan Doherty earned GNAC Men’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week honors after finishing ninth with a time of 24:59.40. Freshman Pierre-Louis Detourbe was right behind in 10th place with a time of 25:00.30.

Western Washington’s women succeeded in a fourth-place finish with a score of 175 points. A pair of juniors led the way as Sophia Galvez finished 28th with a time of 22:54.10 while Talia Dreicer finished 29th in 22:54.20.

The Vikings’ men finished eighth with a score of 249 points, winning a tiebreaker over conference rival Western Oregon thanks to better placing by the Vikings’ No. 3, 4 and 5 runners. Sophomore Eric Hamel led the way as he finished 27th in 25:27.90.

Western Oregon was led by senior Tyler Jones, who finished in 11th place with a time of 25:00.60. Senior Dustin Nading also had a top-20 finish, placing 17th 25:12.60.

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
Rowan Doherty, Simon Fraser
Senior • West Vancouver, B.C.

Doherty led all GNAC athletes in the men’s 8,000-meter race at the Division II Conference Crossover in Romeoville, Ill. Doherty finished in ninth place in a time of 24:59.40 to lead the Clan to a third-place team finish with 127 points.

Also Nominated: Tyler Jones (Western Oregon), Eric Hamel (Western Washington).

WOMEN
Sophia Kaiser, Simon Fraser
Freshman • Karlsruhe, Germany

Kaiser was the top GNAC runner in the 6,000-meter race at the Division II Conference Crossover. She finished in 10th place with a time of 22:21.90 as she led the Clan to a second-place team finish with 146 points.

Also Nominated: Sophia Galvez (Western Washington).

ALASKA
LAST WEEK: Oct. 6 at Emerald City Open
Men - 4th of 6, 117 pts.  Women - 3rd of 6, 89 pts.
THIS WEEK: No Meet

• After a week off, Alaska returned to Washington and compiled a third-place women’s finish and a fourth-place men’s finish at the Emerald City Open.

• Junior Alexandra Bergholtz placed fifth in the women’s 6,000-meter race, the best placing of any GNAC runner in the meet. She finished in a time of 23:13, translating to an average of 6:15 per mile.

• Sophomore Anja Maijala was the other top-20 women’s finisher for Nanooks, placing 19th with a time of 24:55.

• Junior Lukash Platil paced the Alaska men, placing 12th in the 8,000-meter race with a time of 27:15, averaging 5:28 per mile. Freshman Jack Matherly was the No. 2 runner for UAF, placing 28th in 28:05.

• Alaska will not race again until Sat., Oct. 20, when the Nanooks compete at the Western Washington Classic.

ALASKA ANCHORAGE
LAST WEEK: No Meet
THIS WEEK: No Meet

• Alaska Anchorage is in the midst of a two-week break from competition. The Seawolves will not race again until the Western Washington Classic on Sat., Oct. 20.

• The Seawolves’ men finished just short of a perfect score at the UNLV Invitational on Sept. 22, 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 UAA men and women retained their positions on this week’s USTFCCCA Division II Polls with the women at No. 8 and the men at No. 22.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
LAST WEEK: No Meet
THIS WEEK: Oct. 13 at Inland Empire Championships

• Central Washington did not compete last week. The Wildcats will race each of the next two weekends, beginning this Saturday at the Inland Empire Championships in Lewiston, Idaho.

• Both Central Washington teams posted solid performances at the Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational on Sept. 29. The CWU finished fifth and was the top non-Division I team in the meet. The Wildcats’ women placed eighth and third among non-Division I teams.

• Senior Alexa Shindruk fourth in the women’s 5,000-meter race. She finished in a time of 17:21.0 and was the only non-Division I finisher in the top-five. Shindruk finished just 11 seconds behind winner Kristie Schoffield of Boise State.

• The Central Washington men had just a 49-second gap between the five scoring runners, the fourth smallest of the 19 teams in the meet. Senior Corbin Carlton was the leading runner for the Wildcats, finishing 25th as he covered the 8,000-meter course in 25:22.3.

CONCORDIA
LAST WEEK: No Meet
THIS WEEK: Oct. 13 at Lewis & Clark Invitational

• Concordia did not race last week and will be in its final competition prior to the GNAC Championships this Saturday at the Lewis & Clark Invitational in Estacada, Ore.

• Concordia was among five GNAC teams competing against a wide field of college talent at the Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational on Sept. 29.

• The Cavaliers’ men finished 15th in the 19-team field with 434 points. Senior Josh Moats was the team’s lone top-50 placer, finishing 50th in a time of 26:02.8 over the 8,000-meter course.

• Concordia’s women also placed 15th in a 22-team field with a score of 401 and was third among the four GNAC teams. Junior Bailey Fjelstul led the Cavaliers as she placed 70th with a time of 19:04.7 over 5,000 meters.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
LAST WEEK: No Meet
THIS WEEK: Oct. 12 at NCAA Division II West Region Preview Meet

• Montana State Billings did not compete last week. The Yellowjackets will enjoy a home meet for their final competition prior to the GNAC Championships, hosting the NCAA Division II West Region Preview Meet.

• Montana State Billings tested itself against some of the top teams in the upper Midwest at the Roy Griak Invitational on Sept. 29.

• Senior Ivan Colmenero was the top placer for MSUB in either race in 35th place, covering the 8,000-meter course in 26:38.0. Junior Ronald Venema placed 62nd in 27:16.3.

• For the first time in her MSUB career, sophomore Ruth Chepsat led the Yellowjackets’ women as she placed 39th, covering the 6,000-meter course in 23:37.4. Junior Nikki Aiken was 48th as she ran a time of 23:56.2.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
LAST WEEK: No Meet
THIS WEEK: Oct. 13 at Inland Empire Championships

• After running two meets in September, Northwest Nazarene will not race again until the Inland Empire Championships on Sat., Oct. 13. The meet will be the Nighthawks’ last prior to the GNAC Championships.

• The NNU men won the EOU Invitational on Sept. 21. 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. Senior Nick Hamilton finished third in a time of 26:40.59.

• The Nighthawks’ women placed a close second at the EOU Invitational. 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. Freshman Kalen Johnson finished third for the Nighthawks with a time of 19:28.26.

SAINT MARTIN’S
LAST WEEK: No Meet
THIS WEEK: Oct. 13 at Warner Pacific CC Classic

• Saint Martin’s did not compete last week. The Saints travel to Oregon this Saturday to compete in the Warner Pacific Cross Country Classic in Portland.

• Saint Martin’s continued its season on Saturday at the Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational on Sept. 29. The Saints’ men placed three runners in the top-100 to finish 14th as a team. Junior Colton Buster placed 86th as he covered the 8,000-meter course in 26:45.6 while freshman Andrew Oslin was just behind in 87th place with a time of 26:47.2.

• Freshman Alyssa Robinson was the top Saint Martin’s women’s finisher in 127th place, covering the 5,000-meter course in 20:23.3. Junior Yeshi Vaughan placed 145th in a time of 20:39.0.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
LAST WEEK: No Meet
THIS WEEK: Oct. 13 at Inland Empire Championships

• After initially planning to race last weekend close to home, Seattle Pacific canceled its appearance at the Emerald City Open. The Falcons will race for the final time prior to the GNAC Championships this Saturday at the Inland Empire Championships.

• The notable exception was the fastest distance coach in the conference. Falcons’ assistant Chris Reed finished fifth in the men’s 8,000-meter race in a time of 26:23.

• The Falcons’ women finished in fourth place at the Sept. 29 Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational with 140 points. Seattle Pacific tied with Division I Portland, but won the tiebreaker 3-2. The SPU men placed a very competitive seventh with 238 points, second among the four competing GNAC teams.

• Freshman Colby Otero led the Falcons as finished 22nd as he covered the 8,000-meter course in 25:17.9. Otero was the No. 2 Division II placer and fifth among non-Division I competitors.

• Seattle Pacific’s women placed all five scoring runners in the top-50 to trigger the tie with Portland. Freshman Kaylee Mitchell led the way with a fourth-place finish, covering the 5,000-meter course in 17:24.8. She was the second non-Division I finisher in the race.

• The Seattle Pacific women leaped up nine spots in the USTFCCCA Division II Coaches Poll without running, ranking this week in a tie at No. 12.

SIMON FRASER
LAST WEEK: Oct. 6 at Division II Conference Crossover
Men - 3rd of 27, 127 pts.  Women - 2nd of 28, 146 pts.
THIS WEEK: No Meet

• Simon Fraser showed well against a large Division II field at the Division II Conference Crossover. The SFU women placed second while the men finished third.

• Freshman Sophia Kaiser was named the GNAC Women’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week after she led the Clan with a ninth-place finish as she covered the 6,000-meter course in 22:21.90.

• Sophomore Olivia Willett provided another top-20 finish for the Clan as she placed 15th in a time of 22:29.20. Senior Addy Townsend placed 22nd with a time of 22:43.10.

• Senior Rowan Doherty claimed the GNAC Men’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week for his ninth-place finish as he covered the 8,000-meter course in 24:59.40. He was 26 seconds behind the winning time of 24:33.80 run by Austin Nolan of Southern Indiana.

• Freshman Pierre-Louis Detourbe was right behind Doherty as he placed 10th in a time of 25:00.30. Senior Sean Miller added a top-20 finish as he placed 20th in a time of 25:17.70.

• The Simon Fraser men jumped up five spots to No. 8 in the latest USTFCCCA Division II Men’s Coaches Poll. The Simon Fraser women climbed up one spot to No. 10.

• Simon Fraser will not compete this weekend. The Clan returns to the course on Oct. 20 at the Western Washington Classic.

WESTERN OREGON
LAST WEEK: Oct. 6 at Division II Conference Crossover
Men - 9th of 27, 249 pts.  Women - Did Not Compete
THIS WEEK: No Meet

• Western Oregon’s men tested itself against the big field at the Division II Conference Crossover, placing ninth with 249 points. The Wolves tied with Western Washington, with the Vikings taking the tiebreaker 3-2.

• Senior Tyler Jones led the way for the Wolves with an 11th place finish, covering the 8,000-meter course in a time of 25:00.60. Senior Dustin Nading was 12 seconds behind in 17th place with a time of 25:12.60.

• Junior Justin Crosswhite placed 62nd for the Wolves in 25:59.10 while freshman Hunter Hutton was 65th in 25:59.30.

• The Western Oregon men dropped 14 places in the USTFCCCA Division II Coaches Poll, tying with Embry-Riddle (Fla.) at No. 24.

• The meet was the last scheduled for the Wolves prior to the GNAC Championships, which Western Oregon will host on Sat., Nov. 3 in Monmouth.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
LAST WEEK: Oct. 6 at Division II Conference Crossover
Men - 8th of 27, 249 pts.  Women - 4th of 28, 175 pts.
Oct. 6 at Emerald City Open
Men - 2nd of 6, 57 pts.  Women - 2nd of 6, 68 pts.
THIS WEEK: No Meet

• Western Washington showed well at the Division II Conference Crossover, taking fourth in the women’s competition and eighth in the men’s race. In addition, the Vikings’ second squads posted a pair of second-place finishes at the Emerald City Open.

• The Vikings’ women were led at the Crossover by back-to-back finishes from juniors Sophia Galvez and Talia Dreicer. Galvez placed 28th as she covered the 6,000-meter course in 22:54.10 while Dreicer was 29th in 22:54.20. Freshman Rebecca Lehman finished 34th in a time of 22:59.50.

• The WWU men tied with Western Oregon at the Crossover, winning on a 3-2 tiebreaker with the No. 3-5 runners finishing higher than those of the Wolves. Sophomore Eric Hamel led the way with a 27th place finish as he covered the 8,000-meter course in 25:27.90. Junior James Jesperson was 39th in a time of 25:41.70.

• At the Emerald City Open, junior Peter Butler led the Western Washington finishers in eighth place, covering the men’s 8,000-meter course in 27:05. Junior Aundrea Koger was the top women’s finish, placing ninth as she covered the 6,000-meter course in 23:53.

• Both the Vikings’ men and women are ranked in this week’s USTFCCCA Division II Coaches Poll. The WWU women are ranked No. 14 while the men are at No. 19. It is the first ranking for the women this season and the highest for the men.

• Western Washington will not compete again until they host the Western Washington Classic on Sat., Oct. 20.