Oct. 7, 2006

Complete Results

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Western Washington University dominated in repeating as the men's champion and Simon Fraser University won the women's title at the 33rd annual Viking Invitational held Saturday at Lake Padden Park.

The Viking men, rated No.16 in the latest United States Cross Country Coaches Top 25, won by 40 points over runner-up Seattle Pacific, 32 to 72. It was Western's 10th win at the meet and its fifth in seven years.

Simon Fraser's women, ranked No.1 in the NAIA, had a 14-point victory over defending champion Seattle Pacific, 36 to 50. Alaska Anchorage was third with 55 points and Western fifth at 128.

Simon Fraser's David Wambui outkicked Saint Martin's John Riak to take the men's individual title, completing the 10-kilometer course in 32:10.

Western's Anthony Tomsich (So., Fairbanks,AK/West Valley) was sixth in 32:40 and Logan Senrud (Sr., Bigfork, MT) ninth in 32:55.

Completing the Vikings' top six were Keever Henry (Jr., Kelso) 12th (33:13), Bul Nyuop (Jr., Lacey/North Thurston) 15th (33:34), Keith Lemay (Jr., Lynden/Lynden Christian) 17th (33:33) and Sam Brancheau Sr., Edmonds/Edmonds-Woodway) 19th (33:46).

"We did a great job of moving up and staying together," said Western coach Pee Wee Halsell. "It was a phenomenal effort and really gives us a boost as we move into the championship part of our season. It's what we wanted to see."

Club Northwest's Rose Wetzel, who competed collegiately at Georgetown, won the women's crown, touring the 6-kilometer course in 22:07. That was six seconds in front of unattached Julia Howard with Mandy Kaempf from Alaska Anchorage being the top collegiate runner, placing third overall at 22:22.

For the fifth straight week, Ashley McDougall (Fr., Redmond) led the Western women, placing 27th with a 23:46 clocking.

Western has a week off before competing in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships on Oct. 21 at Lacey (host Saint Martin's).