Thursday, September 28, 2017

SHOWING WELL AGAINST THE REST OF DIVISION II: Leave it to those teams right around the U.S./Canadian border to show the GNAC’s prowess against the rest of Division II.

Simon Fraser’s women put the rest of the nation on notice with a solid first place finish in the Division II race at the Roy Griak Invitational in St. Paul, Minn. The Clan scored 73 points, two points better than Pittsburg State, to beat 42 other teams in the race. Senior Julia Howley placed second to lead the Clan with a time of 22:42.4 as SFU’s top-four runners placed in the top 25.

In the men’s Division II race, it was Western Washington showing best for the GNAC with a fourth place team finish of 192 points. The Vikings placed their top-four runners in the top-45. Senior Andrew Wise led WWU with his 16th place finish, covering the 8,000-meter course in 26:32.9.

IN THE RANKINGS: Simon Fraser’s women retained its No. 5 ranking in this week’s USTFCCCA Division II Coaches Poll. The Clan rose to No. 5 last week and is the highest ranking for the Clan in their Division II era. Alaska Anchorage continues to be among teams receiving votes with 10 points.

Alaska Anchorage continues to lead the GNAC in the USTFCCCA Men’s Division II Coaches Poll, ranking at No. 12. Thanks to its showing at the SF State Invitational, Western Oregon emerged on the poll for the first time this season at No. 16. Simon Fraser dropped out of the poll after tying for 13th last week.

BREAKING THE TAPE: Eight GNAC athletes, including five women, picked up victories in races over the first month of the season. Here is the complete list...

MEN
• Felix Kemboi (UAA): Ash Creek Invitational, Sept. 8 (18:42.8, 6,200 meters)
• Judd Lewis (CU): Linfield Harrier Classic, Sept. 1 (19:58.36, 6,000 meters)
• David Ribich (WOU): SF State Invitational, Sept. 22 (24:47.0, 8,000 meters)

WOMEN
• Alyssa Foote (SPU): Dual vs. Northwest (Wash.), Sept. 1 (17:20.95, 4,800 meters)
• Julia Howley (SFU): Ash Creek Invitational, Sept. 8 (16:24.6, 4,600 meters)
• Larissa Kolasinski (SMU): Puget Sound Invitational, Sept. 2 (23:51.00, 6,000 meters)
• Kennedy Rufener (WOU): Linfield Harrier Classic, Sept. 1 (15:21.41, 4,000 meters)
• Alexa Shindruk (CWU): SMU Tri-Meet, Sept. 9 (14:40, 4,000 meters)

THIS WEEK'S GNAC ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
MEN
David Ribich, Western Oregon
Senior • Enterprise, Ore.

Racing in his first competition of the season, Ribich won the SF State Invitational on Friday with a time of 24:47 (4:59 per mile pace). He led the Wolves to a second place team finish with 49 points.

Also Nominated: Josh Hunt (Saint Martin’s), Rowan Doherty (Simon Fraser), Andrew Wise (Western Washington).

WOMEN
Julia Howley, Simon Fraser
Senior • St. John’s, N.L.

It is a threepeat for Howley, who led the Clan to an impressive team victory at the Roy Griak Invitational in Minnesota. The senior placed second out of 400 runners, covering the 6,000-meter course in 21:41.3 (5:49 per mile pace) and lost by just a second to All-American Alexia Zeis of Mary (21:41.3). Simon Fraser won the team title with 73 points, two points ahead of second place Pittsburg St. (75).

Also Nominated: Larissa Kolasinski (Saint Martin’s), Kennedy Rufener (Western Oregon), Lillianna Stelling (Western Washington).

AROUND THE GNAC
ALASKA
LAST WEEK: Sept. 23 at Saint Martin’s Invitational
Men: 4th of 13, 99 pts. Women: 6th of 15, 192 pts.
THIS WEEK: No Meet

• Running in its second meet of the season, Alaska put together a solid pair of team performances at the Saint Martin’s Invitational.

• Senior Seiji Takagi led a fourth place finish for the Nanooks’ men, placing 11th with a time of 27:24.6 over 8,000 meters. He was one of three UAF runners in the top-20 as senior Lyon Kopsack placed 17th in 27:35.5 and senior Jan Cech placed 19th in 27:36.7.

• Senior Kim Fitzgerald led Alaska’s sixth place women’s finish, placing 22nd with a time of 20:04.9 over 5,000 meters. Senior Ann-Cathrin Uhl placed 30th with a time of 20:18.8.

• The Nanooks will not compete this weekend. Alaska will return to the Lower 48 on Sat., Oct. 7, competing at the Western Washington Classic in Bellingham, Wash.

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

• Alaska Anchorage will not compete again until Sat., Oct. 7, when they take part in the Division II Conference Crossover in Romeoville, Ill. It is the Seawolves’ last scheduled meet before the GNAC Championships.

• The Seawolves’ men remained ranked No. 12 in the latest USTFCCCA Division II Coaches Poll. They are also ranked No. 4 in the West Region Rankings.

• The women are still among teams receiving votes in the women’s USTFCCCA Division II Poll, collecting 10 points. The Seawolves are seventh in the West Region Rankings.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
LAST WEEK: Sept. 23 at Saint Martin’s Invitational
Men: 6th of 15, 147 pts. Women: 8th of 15, 230 pts.
THIS WEEK: Sept. 30 at Louisville Sports Commission Cross Country Classic, Louisville, Ky.

• While resting its top runners, Central Washington gave the rest of its squads valuable racing experience at the Saint Martin’s Invitational.

• Freshman Henry Milodragovich led the sixth place Wildcat men’s finish, placing 23rd in a time of 27:48.1 over 8,000 meters. Sophomore Matthew Schrenk placed 33rd in a time of 28:05.1.

• Junior Brenna Liebel was the top Central Washington women’s finisher, placing 33rd with a time of 20:26.7 over 5,000 meters. She led the CWU women to an eighth place finish. Freshman Katie Ashley was the No. 2 runner, placing 43rd in 20:50.7.

• Central Washington will take one of its longest regular season road trips ever, traveling to Louisville, Ky., for Saturday’s Louisville Sports Commission Cross Country Classic.

CONCORDIA
LAST WEEK: No Meet
THIS WEEK: Sept. 30 at Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational

• Concordia did not race last weekend after three straight weekends of competition. The Cavaliers are back this weekend, competing in the Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational.

• Concordia competed last on Sept. 16, with the Cavaliers’ men placing seventh at the Sundodger Invitational. Senior Judd Lewis led the way with his third top-20 finish of the season, placing 17th in a time of 25:27.29.

• Senior Sara Harrington led the Cocordina women at Sundodger, placing 60th with a time of 23:26.73 over 6,000 meters.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
LAST WEEK: No Meet
THIS WEEK: Sept. 30 at Rocky Mounrain Shootout, Boulder, Colo.

• Montana State Billings did not compete last weekend. The Yellowjackets will travel south on Saturday to compete in the Rocky Mountain Shootout at the University of Colorado.

• The Montana State Billings’ men were the top scoring non-Division I team at the Sept. 16 MSU-Bozeman Running Co. Invitational, scoring a total of 23 points Junior Tyus Mendoza led the way in the non-Division I five-mile competition, placing fifth in a time of 26:45.59.

• The Yellowjackets fielded just four runners in the women’s three-mile competition. Sophomore Nikki Aiken placed third with a time of 18:59.01.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
LAST WEEK: Sept. 23 at Roy Griak Invitational
Men: 24th of 43, 584 pts. Women: 27th of 43, 723 pts.
THIS WEEK: No Meet

• Against a loaded field of Division II competition, Northwest Nazarene finished in the middle of the pack in both races at the Roy Griak Invitational.

• The Crusaders’ men placed 24th in the 43-team field with a total of 584 points. Sophomore Godfrey Kemboi led the team with a time of 27:11.6 over the 8,000-meter course. He was the seventh GNAC runner to cross the finish line. Senior Isaac Mitchell placed 75th in a time of 27:30.8.

• Junior Sierra Manzer led the five NNU women’s runner in the meet, placing 74th in a time of 24:13.8 for 6,000 meters. Sophomore Bethany Danner was the Crusaders’ No. 2 runner, placing 165th in a time of 25:40.7.

• After the long road trip last week, Northwest Nazarene will take the weekend off from competition. The Crusaders compete again on Sat., Oct. 7, at the Western Washington Classic in Bellingham, Wash.

SAINT MARTIN’S
LAST WEEK: Sept. 23: Saint Martin’s Invitational
Men - 7th of 13, 172 pts. Women - 4th of 15, 128 pts.
THIS WEEK: Sept. 30 at Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational, Salem, Ore.

• Competing at home for the second time this season, Saint Martin’s turned in a fourth place women’s finish and a sixth place men’s finish at the Saint Martin’s Invitational.

• Junior Larissa Kolasinski turned in a sixth place finish to lead the Saint Martin’s women. She turned in a time of 19:15.8 over 5,000 meters and was the second GNAC runner to cross the finish line. Senior Yadira Lopez placed 13th with a time of 19:40.2 and junior Lindsay Dorney placed 20th in 20:00.9.

• Senior Josh Hunt led the SMU men’s sixth place finish, placing 12th with a time of 27:26.1 over 8,000 meters. He was the third GNAC runner to cross the finish line. Freshman Guillaume Tabary was the No. 2 runner for the Saints, placing 40th in 28:26.4.

• The Saints will travel south this weekend to Salem, Ore., competing at the Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
LAST WEEK: No Meet
THIS WEEK: Sept. 30 at Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational

• Seattle Pacific did not compete last weekend. The Falcons will return to the course this Saturday at the Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational.

• A third place women’s finish and a 10th place men’s finish highlighted a great performance for Seattle Pacific at the Sundodger Invitational. With 132 points, the SPU women trailed only Simon Fraser in GNAC teams in the meet. Dania Holmberg led the way, placing 23rd in 22:23.63.

• Senior Ben Halladay posted an impressive men’s performance, placing 12th in the 8,000-meter race in a time of 25:15.11. He was the No. 3 GNAC runner to cross the finish line.

• The Seattle Pacific women stayed at No. 8 in the USTFCCCA Division II West Region Rankings.

SIMON FRASER
LAST WEEK: Sept. 23 at Roy Griak Invitational
Men - 8th of 43, 292 pts. Women - 1st of 43, 73 pts.
THIS WEEK: No Meet

• The Clan continue to impress, especially on the women’s side, with a pair of solid team performances at the Roy Griak Invitational.

• The Simon Fraser women won the women’s maroon race, featuring primarily Division II teams, with a score of 73 points. The Clan’s scoring five all finished within 57 seconds of each other.

• Senior Julia Howley was named the GNAC Women’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week for the third week after she placed second in the women’s race, covering the 6,000-meter course in 22:42.4. Junior Addy Townsend scored a fifth place finish in 22:52.6 and senior Miryam Bassett placed 13th in 23:03.0.

• The Simon Fraser men placed eighth with a score of 292 points and were the second placing GNAC team. Junior Rowan Doherty was the Clan’s top finisher and the No. 2 placer from a GNAC school, finishing 22nd in a time of 26:39.5. Senior Mateo de Dalmases finished 47th with a time of 27:05.3.

• Simon Fraser’s women retained its No. 5 ranking in this week’s USTFCCCA Division II Coaches Poll. The SFU men dropped out of the national poll after being tied for 13th last week. The Simon Fraser women are ranked No. 1 in the West Region Rankings while the men are ranked No. 8.

• Simon Fraser will sit out of competition this week. The Clan will return to the couse on Sat., Oct. 7, at the Western Washington Classic.

WESTERN OREGON
LAST WEEK: Sept. 22 at SF State Invitational
Men - 2nd of 11, 49 pts. Women - 5th of 9, 122 pts.
THIS WEEK: Sept. 30 at Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational

• Running most of its top runners for the first time this season, Western Oregon turned in a pair of good team performances at the SF State Invitational.

• The Western Oregon men surged to a second place finish with a score of 49 points, which included placing four runners in the top-15. The impressive performance allowed the Wolves to vault to No. 16 in this week’s USTFCCCA Division II Coaches Poll. They are also No. 5 in the West Region.

• Senior David Ribich earned GNAC Men’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week honors after he won the men’s 8,000-meter race in a time of 24:47.0. Ribich finished 14 seconds ahead of second place McMarshall Hartzenburg of Cal Baptist.

• Junior Dustin Nading placed seventh in a time of 25:20.6. Junior Tyler Jones was 11th in 25:35.9 and senior Josh Dempsey finished 12th in 25:36.5.

• Senior Kennedy Rufener led Western Oregon’s sixth place team finish with a sixth place individual finish, covering the 6,000-meter course in 21:54.4. Junior Suzanne Van De Grift added a 22nd place finish in 23:02.5.

• Western Oregon is close to home this weekend, competing on Saturday at the Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational in Salem, Ore.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
LAST WEEK: Sept. 23: at Roy Griak Invitational
Men - 4th of 43, 192 pts. Women - 7th of 43, 205 pts.
Sept. 23: at Saint Martin’s Invitational
Men - 2nd of 13, 77 pts. Women - 5th of 15, 131 pts.
THIS WEEK: No Meet

• Western Washington performed well with a split squad with athletes at both the Roy Griak Invitational and the Saint Martin’s Invitational.

• The WWU men placed fourth at the Roy Griak out of 43 teams with 192 points. Senior Andrew Wise led the way with his 16th place finish, covering the 8,000-meter course in 26:32.9. He was the top finishing athlete from the GNAC. Junior Dylan Hayes placed 39th with a time of 26:57.7.

• Senior Lillianna Stelling led the Vikings’ seventh place women’s team finish at the Roy Griak, placing 28th with a time of 23:27.4 over 6,000 meters. Senior Alexandra Laiblin placed 35th in 23:38.7.

• At the Saint Martin’s Invitational, sophomore Waverly Schreffler led the Vikings’ fifth place women’s finish with a time of 19:14.3 over 5,000 meters. Sophomore Peter Butler topped the men’s second place finish with his 10th place time of 27:17.1.

• Western Washington moved up to No. 7 in the USTFCCCA Men’s West Region Rankings. The WWU women dropped one spot to No. 10.

• Western Washington takes the weekend off before running the next two meets at home. The Vikings will host the Western Washington Classic on Sat., Oct. 7, before hosting the GNAC Championships on Sat., Oct. 21.