PORTLAND, Ore. -  With a boost from transfer Amy Johnston, Alaska Anchorage earned its first women’s national ranking of the 2014 cross country season Wednesday.

Johnston, who placed 49th for Metro State at the 2014 NCAA national meet in Spokane,  placed 12th in a time of 22:05 last Saturday at the 41st annual Western Washington Cross Country Classic at Lake Padden Park.

Johnston, competing in her first meet for  the Seawolves since transferring from the Colorado school, was UAA’s top finisher in leading her team to a fourth place finish, including second among GNAC schools.

That helped UAA, the five-time defending GNAC champions, climb from seventh to fifth in this week’s West Regional poll and earn a No. 20 national ranking.

Meanwhile, the UAA men remained in seventh place in the national rankings for the third week in a row after another impressive outing.

The Seawolves placed six runners in the Top 10 at Bellingham led by Dylan Anthony  to win their fourth consecutive race of the fall with a team score of 18.  UAA had perfect team scores of 15 in its three previous outings.

Anthony placed first  in a 10,000-meter time of 31:02 after finishing second in the three previous meets in back of teammate Henry Cheseto.  Cheseto finished second at Bellingham, 15 seconds behind Anthony.

Simon Fraser’s women finished second at WWU to hold on to its No. 8 national ranking. 

Western Washington’s Katelyn Steen was the GNAC’s top individual in the meet placing third in a time of 21:20.

In this week’s women’s regional rankings , Simon Fraser is second, followed by UAA (5th), Central Washington (6th) and WWU (7th).

In the men’s regional rankings, Alaska Anchorage was ranked second for the fifth week in a row.  Simon Fraser earned a No. 6 ranking, its best of the season, and Western Washington was seventh.

SMU’s Krause Wins George Fox Classic

Frank Krause of Saint Martin’s won the men’s individual title last Saturday in the George Fox Classic covering the 8,000-meter course in a time of 25:45.1. 

SMU’s Nathan Morgan placed third in a time of 25:57.4 as the Saints finished second in the team standings. 

SMU’s best finish in the women’s race was by Megan Teigen.  She  placed sixth in a 5,000-meter time of 19:28.6.

What’s Happening This Saturday

With the GNAC conference meet two weeks away, conference athletes will compete this Saturday at the Black Hills State Invitational (Montana State Billings), the Lewis & Clark Invitational (Alaska, Northwest Nazarene) and the Emerald City Open (Seattle Pacific, Simon Fraser).  Seattle University is the host for the latter meet.

LAST WEEK’S SUMMARIES

Western Washington Classic (Oct. 11 at Bellingham): Men – Alaska Anchorage 18, Victoria 39, Simon Fraser 121, Western Washington 128, Trinity Western 174, Club Northwest 185, Western Oregon 203, British Columbia 225, Central Washington 248, Seattle Pacific 278. Individuals (10,000 Meters) – 1. Dylan Anthony, UAA, 31:02; 2. Henry Cheseto, UAA, 31:17; 3. Dominik Notz, UAA, 31:20; 6. Michel Ramirez, UAA, 31:30; 8. Edward Kangogo, UAA, 31:35; 10. Victor Samoei, UAA, 31:45; 16. Nathan Kipchumba, UAA, 32:01; 17. Oliver Jorgensen, SFU, 32:02; 19. David Ribich, WOU, 32:08; 20. Turner Wiley, SPU, 32:11.  Women – Trinity Western 58, Simon Fraser 90, Victoria 100, Alaska Anchorage 107, British Columbia 119, Central Washington 137, Club Northwest 138, Western Washington 143, Seattle Pacific 199, Western Oregon 270. Individuals (6,000 Meters) – 1. Sarah Inglis, TWU, 20:52; 3. Katelyn Steen, WWU, 21:20; 8. Rebecca Bassett, SFU, 21:42; 11. Dani Eggleston, CWU, 22:00; 12. Amy Johnston, UAA, 22:05; 14. Jennifer Johnson, SFU, 22:11; 17. Connie Morgan, CWU, 22:31; 20. Anni Patti, SPU, 22:33.

George Fox Classic (Oct. 11 at Newberg): Men – Lane CC 48, Saint Martin’s 64, Linfield 74, George Fox 77, Northwest 133, Treasure Valley 144, Multnomah 190. Individuals (8,000 Meters) – 1. Frank Krause, SMU, 25:45.1; 3. Nathan Morgan, SMU, 25:57.4; 9. Josiah Shelman, SMU, 26:24.8.  Women – Northwest 37, Linfield 60, Lane CC 95, George Fox 102, Treasure Valley 105, Saint Martin’s 133. Individuals (5,000 Meters) – 1. Cassady Brown, Northwest, 18:35.3; 6. Megan Teigen, SMU, 19:28.6.

GNAC ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

Men – Dylan Anthony, Alaska Anchorage (Sr., Kodiak, AK) finished first in a 10,000-meter time of 31:02, to lead the Seawolves to an easy team win at the 41st annual Western Washington Classic.  The Vikings have been unchallenged this fall posting three perfect scores of 15.  On Saturday, they recorded a team score of 18 placing six runners in the Top 10.

Women – Katelyn Steen, Western Washington (Jr., Sammamish, WA - Eastlake), finished third in back of two Trinity Western runners at Lake Padden Park, in a 6,000-meter time of 21:20.  In three races this fall, she has had finishes of first, third and eighth.  Her time Saturday was just eight seconds slower than her time last month at the University of Washington Invitational.