Thursday, August 23, 2018

PORTLAND, Ore. – One team was brand new to the top spot on the podium while the other is no stranger to first place.

After winning its first GNAC championship in the sport over longtime powerhouse Alaska Anchorage, Western Oregon is picked once again to be a champion in the 2018 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Men’s Cross Country Preseason Poll.

The Seawolves’ women, meanwhile, are the top pick in the GNAC Women’s Cross Country Preseason Poll. The three-time defending champions have won eight titles in the last nine years.

Western Oregon received seven of a possible 11 first-place votes in the men’s poll for a total of 102 points. Coaches are expecting a close race with the remaining four first-place votes split between three teams. Alaska Anchorage had two of those and is picked second with 94 points. Simon Fraser and Western Washington earned one first-place vote each and are tied for third with 92 points.

Alaska Anchorage took nine of 11 first-place votes from the women’s poll for 108 points after a season that saw the Seawolves finish fifth at the NCAA Championships. Simon Fraser received the other two first-place votes and is picked second with 102 points. Western Washington is projected third with 87 points.

The 2018 GNAC cross country season begins on Fri., Aug. 31, with Western Oregon taking part in the Linfield Harrier Classic in McMinnville, Ore. Saint Martin’s competes on Sat., Sept. 1, at the Puget Sound Invitational in Lakewood, Wash., while Montana State Billings opens at the Hardrocker Cross Country Classic in Rapid City, S.D. The remaining eight GNAC squads open on the weekend of Sept. 7 and 8.

After running three years at Bellingham, Washington’s Lake Padden Park, the 2018 GNAC Cross Country Championships moves south to the Ash Creek Preserve on the Western Oregon campus. The conference meet takes place on Sat., Nov. 3. The NCAA West Regional Championships takes place on Sat., Nov. 17, at Amend Park in Billings, Mont., and is hosted by Montana State Billings.

MEN
While the Wolves were led by dominant front-runners David Ribich and Dustin Nading, it was the pack that won Western Oregon its first GNAC cross country championship. The No. 3 through 5 runners finished 13th, 14th and 15th to sew up a team score of 64 points that ended Alaska Anchorage’s run of seven straight GNAC titles. Western Oregon went on to tie for third at the NCAA West Region Championships (with Simon Fraser) and earn a team invitation to the NCAA Championships.

While Ribich has graduated and turned pro, the Wolves return just about everyone else. Nading placed eighth at the conference meet (25:32.76) before going on to win a national title during indoor track in the mile and was runner-up to Ribich outdoors in the 1,500 meters. Nading was named the Google Cloud/CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year. The entire mid-pack of three that won conference is back in senior Tyler Jones (13th, 25:53.90), who was a First Team Academic All-American, senior Parker Marson (14th, 25:55.73) and junior Justin Crosswhite (15th, 25:59.11).

While Alaska Anchorage missed a trophy for the first time since 2010, it was a close race. The Seawolves were 13 points behind the Wolves with 64 points and placed three runners in the top-15. Sophomore Felix Kemboi earned GNAC Freshman of the Year honors with a third-place finish (25:18.59) and is the conference’s top returning finisher. Senior Jorge Sanchez was named the GNAC Newcomer of the Year thanks to a 23rd place finish (26:11.93). Alaska Anchorage also returns top-45 conference meet finishers in sophomore Nickson Koech (30th, 26:36.26) and junior Kaleb Korta (45th, 26:54.91).

Simon Fraser was third at last year’s GNAC Championships and has placed either second or third each of the last five years. The Clan tied for third at the West Region Championships, but lost out on a spot at nationals when Western Oregon won the tiebreaker. Simon Fraser returns a pair of All-GNAC performers in senior Sean Miller, who placed fifth at conference (25:28.98) and 16th at regionals, and senior Rowan Doherty, who placed seventh at conference (25:31.01) and 19th at regionals. Senior Carlos Vargas did not compete at conference last year, but returned for a 46th place finish in the regional meet.

Western Washington just missed a top-three team finish last year, finishing six points behind Simon Fraser on the Vikings’ home course. The Vikings return a very experienced squad. Senior Isaac Derline redshirted last year, but placed third at the GNAC Championships in 2016 (25:07.80) before earning All-West Region honors and an invitation to the NCAA Championships. Senior Jadon Olson earned All-GNAC honors with a sixth-place finish last year (25:59.10). Adding to the experience is sophomore Eric Hamel (20th, 26:09.59) and senior Dylan Hayes (21st, 26:11.20).

Coaches expect Central Washington to move up to fifth after placing sixth in 2017. The Wildcats return a solid core of runners that ran well as a team. Senior Tyler Humphries finished 29th in last year’s conference meet (26:29.14). Sophomore Henry Milodragovich placed 34th (26:42.49), senior Corbin Carlton was 36th (26:44.28) and sophomore Trevor Allen was 43rd (26:52.64). In all, Central Washington returns all but one runner that competed in last year’s GNAC Championships.

Northwest Nazarene placed fifth last year and will adjust to life with a new coaching staff with the departure of longtime head coach John Spatz. The Nighthawks will be led by Ben Gall, a longtime NNU assistant who returns to Nampa after six years as the head cross country coach at Cal Baptist. Junior Godfrey Kemboi is poised to become an All-GNAC selection after placing 16th last year (25:59.81). He had the ninth-fastest time among conference returners. The Nighthawks also welcome back senior Nick Hamilton (31st, 28:38.97) and junior Peyton Brothers (63rd, 27:20.97).

Despite a young squad, Montana State Billings finished a competitive seventh at last year’s GNAC Championships and is picked to stay in that position this year. Junior Ronald Venema is the Yellowjackets’ top returning runner after he finished 50th at conference (23:03.97) while senior Ivan Colmenero was 52nd (27:05.58).

Seattle Pacific is picked to repeat its eighth-place finish after moving up from 11th place in 2016. Sophomore Elius Graff showed solid potential throughout both the cross country and track seasons. He led the Falcons’ returners after finishing 41st at the GNAC Championships (26:51.81). Bolstering the leading sophomore trio is Royce Garcia (54th, 27:07.70) and Shad Galloway (60th, 27:11.19).

In its first full season as a Division II member, Concordia finished 10th and is predicted to move up to ninth this year. The Cavaliers will be led by a trio of seniors in Jose Macias, who placed 47th at the GNAC Championships (26:56.83), Josh Moats, who placed 53rd (27:06.49), and Dominic Giordano, who finished 55th (27:08.66).

Alaska is picked to finish 10th. The Nanooks welcome back their top placer at the 2017 GNAC Championships in Lukash Platil. The junior placed 37th in a time of 27:28.60. Also returning to the squad is junior Jacob Walsh (79th, 27:59.6) and sophomore Logan Mowry (85th, 28:48.40).

Saint Martin’s is picked 11th and return seven athletes who competed at the 2017 GNAC Championships. The Saints are led by sophomore Miguel De LaMalena, who finished 78th (27:58.75) and senior Levi Schilter (81st, 28:06.05).

WOMEN
Once again, Alaska Anchorage was simply dominant in winning the program’s eighth GNAC championship over the last nine years. Led by GNAC and Division II national champion Caroline Kurgat, the Seawolves placed all seven scoring runners in the top-15 to finish with 28 points, 37 points ahead of second-place Simon Fraser. Alaska Anchorage went on to finish second at the NCAA West Regional meet and fifth at the Division II Championships, the program’s best finish since 2013.

Kurgat is still around, but has exhausted her cross country eligibility. The cupboard is far from bare, however, with four All-GNAC performers and two All-Americans returning. Senior Zennah Jepchumba placed fourth at the GNAC Championships (21:53.66) and went on to finish 30th at the national meet. Junior Emmah Chelimo earned GNAC Newcomer of the Year honors with her eighth-place conference finish (22:11.26) and earned an All-American trophy by placing 40th at nationals.

Senior Danielle McCormick placed fifth at conference (22:06.72) and just missed All-American honors with a 41st place nationals finish. She went on to win the Division II national title indoors at 800 meters. Senior Kimberly Coscia rounds out the group as she finished 10th at the GNAC Championships (22:12.28).

Simon Fraser used experience to capture second place for the second straight year and for the fifth time since joining the conference in 2011. The Clan went on to place fourth at the West Regional and 10th at the NCAA Championships. To stay near the top, though, SFU will have to have runners step up to make up for the departures od Julia Howley and Miryam Bassett.

Sophomore Olivia Willett earned All-GNAC honors as a freshman, placing ninth at the conference meet (22:11.53) and placed 57th at nationals. Senior Chelsea Ribeiro placed 20th at the GNAC meet (22:48.28) while senior Addy Townsend placed 27th (23:06.26). Both athletes placed in the top-30 at the regional meet. The Clan also returns senior Sophie Dodd, who finished 29th at the conference meet (23:16.68).

Western Washington is picked third after moving up one spot from fourth at the GNAC Championships. The Vikings have finished in the top four at the conference meet each of the last 10 years. Junior Tracy Melville hopes to earn All-GNAC honors after just missing last year with a 13th-place finish (22:23.83). In all, Western Washington returns six runners with conference meet experience, led by Melville, sophomore Jane Barr (23rd, 22:58.47), junior Peyton Shinnick (25th, 23:01.39) and sophomore Sophia Galvez (28th, 23:08.84).

Seattle Pacific slipped from third to fourth last year despite its team score increasing by just one point from the year before. With the loss of GNAC individual runner-up Mary Charleson, the Falcons will compete with a young, but talented squad. Sophomore Dania Holmberg leads the way after placing 19th as a freshman (22:44.34). She is complemented by juniors Kate Lilly (24th, 22:59.36) and Katherine Walter (26th, 23:04.07).

Central Washington is picked to finish fifth once again and return seven runners that competed at conference last year. Senior Alexa Shindruk just missed All-GNAC laurels with an 11th place conference finish (22:13.61), but bounced back to finish 19th at the NCAA West Regional to earn All-West Region honors. All five of the Wildcats’ top scorers placed in the top-50 and are back this year, including juniors Brenna Carlson (39th, 23:40.68) and Delaney Clem (40th, 23:42.89).

After placing eighth last year, coaches expect Northwest Nazarene to move up to sixth. Senior Sierra Manzer leads the way after a strong junior season where she finished 14th at the GNAC Championships (22:49.47) and 64th at the regional meet. Also back for the Nighthawks are junior Bethany Danner (55th, 24:11.48) and senior Emily Hammons (62nd, 24:26.88).

Western Oregon, picked to finish seventh, returns without its two top performers with the graduation of Kennedy Rufener and Suzie Van De Grift. Junior Cassie McKinney is the Wolves’ top returning finisher after placing 57th a year ago (24:13.63). Senior Olivia Woods, a natural 800-meter runner, placed 64th last year in 24:34.85 before earning All-GNAC honors during the track and field seasons.

Concordia, picked ninth, hopes that experience will help the team move up on the conference ladder. The Cavaliers are led by senior Nicole Pedersen, who finished 53rd at the GNAC Championships in 24:07.59. Junior Gabriella Hobson finished one place back in 54th (21:10.12) and junior Kaitlyn Bailly was 56th in 24:13.09.

Montana State Billings will build nearly from scratch after losing all but one conference meet performer. Junior Nikki Aiken is the lone returner after placing 34th in 2017 in a time of 23:28.00.

Saint Martin’s is picked 11th after finishing in 10th place a year ago. Senior Lindsey Dorney leads four returners from last year’s meet. She placed 67th in 24:39.08. Also returning is senior Sadie Dalgleish (76th, 25:22.89) and junior Yeshi Vaughan (86th, 26:00.66).