Thursday, October 4, 2018

IF YOU WANT TO BE THE BEST...: The eight GNAC teams that competed last week did not shy away from meets that pitted their athletes against top-flight competition.

That was no more apparent than in Salem, Oregon, where five conference squads competed against Division I competition at the Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational. Seattle Pacific’s women’s program made the biggest splash as it placed fourth in the 22-team women’s competition. The Falcons tied with Division I Portland’s B squad with 140 points with SPU taking the tiebreaker 3-2. (Portland’s top athletes ran at the University of Wisconsin’s Nuttycombe Invitational).

Central Washington led GNAC men’s squads in the meet, placing fifth out of 19 teams with a score of 212 points. The Wildcats were the top-placing non-Division I program thanks in a part to a spread of just 49 seconds between the five scoring runners.

The Willamette Invitational yielded both of this week’s GNAC Cross Country Athletes of the Week. Central Washington senior Alexa Shindruk earned the women’s honor after she placed fourth with a time of 17:21.0. She was the first CWU selection for the award since the end of the 2014 season.

Seattle Pacific’s freshman Colby Otero earned the Men’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week award after he placed 22nd in the men’s 8,000-meter race in a time of 25:17.9.

Simon Fraser showed well in a talented field of Division I competition at the Stanford Invitational. The Clan men placed sixth with a score of 189 points while the SFU women were 12th with 313 points. Senior Addy Townsend finished 30th with a time of 21:57.00 while senior Rowan Doherty paced the Clan men with his 38th place finish, covering the 8,000 meters in 25:15.70.

Montana State Billings continued its season at the huge Roy Griak Invitational in St. Paul, Minn. The Yellowjackets’ men finished 11th while the women placed 15th.

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
Colby Otero, Seattle Pacific
Freshman • Kailua, Hawaii

Running in his second collegiate meet, Otero led the Falcons and all GNAC runners at the Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational, finishing 22nd in a time of 25:17.9 over 8,000 meters. He helped lead Seattle Pacific to a sixth-place team finish.

Also Nominated: Josh Moats (Concordia), Rowan Doherty (Simon Fraser), Sawyer Heckard (Western Oregon).

WOMEN
Alexa Shindruk, Central Washington
Senior • Lynden, Wash.

Shindruk took fourth place at the Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational, covering the 5,000-meter course in 17:21.0. She averaged 5 minutes, 35 seconds per mile as she was the top non-Division I placer in the race as Central Washington placed eighth as a team.

Also Nominated: Bailey Fjelstul (Concordia), Addy Townsend (Simon Fraser), Cassie McKinney (Western Oregon).

AROUND THE GNAC
ALASKA
LAST WEEK: No Meet
THIS WEEK: Oct.6 at Emerald City Open

• Alaska did not compete last week. The Nanooks return to competition at the Emerald City Open on Saturday in Seattle.

• At the Ken Garland Invitational on Sept. 22, the Nanooks’ women finished sixth while the men were incomplete with just four athletes competing.

• Junior Alexandra Bergholtz led all Alaska runners as she placed ninth in the women’s 5,000-meter race in a time of 18:58.62. She finished sixth among GNAC runners and was the first conference runner not from Western Washington to finish.

• Junior Kati Roivas was the other UAF runner to finish in the top-30, placing 29th in a time of 20:18.46.

• Freshman Zephan Ozturgut led the four-man Alaska team in the men’s 8,000-meter race, placing 52nd in a time of 28:47.84. Sophomore Josiah Alverts finished 66th in a time of 29:09.59.

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.

• In this week’s USTFCCCA Division II Coaches Polls, the Alaska Anchorage women dropped to No. 8 while the men dropped to No. 21.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
LAST WEEK: Sept. 29 at Charles Bowles Willamette Invite
Men - 5th of 19, 212 pts.  Women - 8th of 22, 227 pts.
THIS WEEK: No Meet

• Both Central Washington teams posted solid performances at the Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational. 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 was named the GNAC Women’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week after she finished 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.

• Sophomore Nicole Soleim was the other CWU women’s runner to place in the top-50, placing 47th in a time of 18:33.2.

• 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.

• Sophomore Henry Milodragovich was the No. 2 runner, placing 44th in a time of 25:56.8. Senior Tyler Humphries rounded out the Wildcats’ top-50 placers, finishing 49th in 26:01.1.

• Central Washington will not compete again until Sat., Oct. 13, at the Inland Empire Championships in Lewiston, Idaho.

CONCORDIA
LAST WEEK: Sept. 29 at Charles Bowles Willamette Invite
Men - 15th of 19, 434 pts.  Women - 15th of 22, 401 pts.
THIS WEEK: No Meet

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

• 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. Junior Noah Murry finished 89th in 26:49.6 while senior Dominic Giordano rounded out the top-100 in 91st place with a time of 26:55.5.

• 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. Senior Dalen Richardson placed 75th in 19:10.8, senior Nicole Pederson was 84th in 19:20.8 and junior Gabby Hobson was 85th in 19:27.3. There was just 23 seconds between Concordia’s top-four runners.

• The Cavaliers will race just one more time prior to the GNAC Championships, taking part in the Lewis & Clark Invitational in Estacada, Oregon, on Sat., Oct. 13.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
LAST WEEK: Sept. 29 at Roy Griak Invitational
Men - 11th of 15, 298 pts.  Women - 16th of 22, 419 pts.
THIS WEEK: No Meet

• Montana State Billings tested itself against some of the top teams in the upper Midwest at the Roy Griak Invitational, hosted by the Univ. of Minnesota.

• 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 and sophomore Carson Jessup finished 65th in 27:22.6.

• 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.

• Montana State Billings will race just one more time prior to the GNAC Championships. That race will be at home as MSUB hosts the NCAA Division II West Region Preview Meet on Fri., Oct. 12.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
LAST WEEK: No Meet
THIS WEEK: No Meet

• 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. Sophomore Anna Hamilton finished fourth in a time of 19:39.78 as the Nighthawks placed three runners in the top-four.

SAINT MARTIN’S
LAST WEEK: Sept. 29 at Charles Bowles Willamette Invite
Men - 14th of 19, 416 pts.  Women - 21st of 22, 639 pts.
THIS WEEK: No Meet

• Saint Martin’s continued its season on Saturday at the Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational, one of five GNAC teams competing in the meet.

• 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 John Farrell just made the top-100 as he finished 99th in 27:07.1.

• 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.

• The Saints will race twice more prior to the GNAC Championships. Their next week is the Warner Pacific Cross Country Classic on Sat., Oct. 13, in Portland.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
LAST WEEK: Sept. 29 at Charles Bowles Willamette Invite
Men - 7th of 19, 238 pts.  Women - 4th of 22, 140 pts.
THIS WEEK: Oct. 6 at Emerald City Open

• Both Seattle Pacific teams showed well against Division I and Division II competition at the Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational.

• The Falcons’ women finished in fourth place 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 was named the GNAC Men’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week. He 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.

• Sophomore Elius Graff was the Falcons’ other top-50 men’s finisher, placing 48th in a time of 26:00.2.

• 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.

• Junior Kate Lilly placed 21st in a time of 17:49.0 while sophomore Dania Holmberg rounded out top-30 finishers in 24th place with a time of 17:58.9.

• The performance was enough to put the SPU women in the USTFCCCA Division II Coaches Poll for the first time this season, entering at No. 21.
• The Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational started a string of three straight meets for the Falcons. They will race close to home on Saturday in the Emerald City Open at Seattle’s Lower Woodland Park.

SIMON FRASER
LAST WEEK: Sept. 29 at Stanford Invitational
Men - 6th of 18, 189 pts.  Women - 12th of 19, 313 pts.
THIS WEEK: Oct. 6 at Division II Conference Crossover

• Simon Fraser tested itself against Division I competition at the Stanford Invitational. The SFU men led the way with a sixth-place team finish while the Clan women finished 12th.

• Senior Rowan Doherty led the Simon Fraser men with his 38th place finish, covering the 8,000-meter course in 25:15.70. He averaged 5 minutes, 38 seconds per mile. Freshman Pierre-Louis Detourbe was just 10 seconds behind, placing 45th in a time of 25:23.20.

• Senior Addy Townsend was the top runner for the Clan in the women’s 6,000-meter race, placing 30th with a time of 21:57.0. Sophomore Olivia Willett was the Clan’s other top-50 placer, finishing 49th in a time of 22:25.40.

• Both the SFU men and women continue to be ranked in the USTFCCCA Division II Coaches Polls. The Clan women are ranked No. 11 while the men are tied at No. 13 with Dallas Baptist.

• Simon Fraser makes another long trip this weekend, traveling to Romeoville, Ill., to compete in the Division II Conference Crossover on Saturday.

WESTERN OREGON
LAST WEEK: Sept. 29 at Charles Bowles Willamette Invite
Men - Incomplete  Women - Incomplete
THIS WEEK: Oct. 6 at Division II Conference Crossover

• Western Oregon sent a small group of runners the short distance from Monmouth to Salem to compete at the Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational.

• Senior Zach Kanelis was the top Western Oregon men’s runner. He finished 94th in a time of 26:59.4 over 8,000 meters. He was one of three WOU men to race in the meet.

• Senior Cassie McKinney paced the Wolves’ women, placing 88th as she covered the 5,000-meter course in 19:32.5. She was one of four WOU women to compete in the meet.

• Western Oregon’s men went back up on spot to No. 10 in this week’s USTFCCCA Division II Coaches Poll. It is the team’s highest ranking of the season.

• Western Oregon will send full squads to Romeoville, Ill., this weekend to compete in the Division II Conference Crossover.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
LAST WEEK: No Meet
THIS WEEK: Oct. 6 at Division II Conference Crossover and Emerald City Open

• Western Washington did not compete last weekend will send athletes to two different meets this week. The Vikings will compete at both the Division II Conference Crossover in Romeoville, Ill., and at the Emerald City Open in Seattle.

• Western Washington dominated the competition at the Ken Garland Invitational on Sept. 22. The Vikings’ men swept the top-five places and seven of the top eight spots for a perfect 15-point score. The WWU women placed five in the top seven to win with a score of 21 points.

• Freshman Ian Fay won the men’s 8,000-meter race in a time of 26:03.50, averaging 5 minutes, 14 seconds per mile. There was just a 23-second gap between the team’s top-five runners. Senior Jadon Olson placed second with a time of 26:09.86. Senior Kyler Sager finished third in 26:11.47, junior James Jasperson was fourth in 26:14.74 and sophomore Eric Hamel placed fifth in a time of 26:25.07.

• Freshman Rebecca Lehman won the women’s 5,000-meter race in a time of 18:15.19. She averaged 5:54 per mile and finished 15 seconds ahead of second-place Michaela Kostecka of Spokane CC. Freshman Shawnee Konrad finished third for the Vikings in a time of 18:37.84. Sophomore Jane Barr was one-second behind in fourth place at 18:38.03.