Oct. 20, 2007

Complete Results

Nampa, Id. - Even without one of its top runners, the Western Washington University men's team claimed the team title at the seventh annual Great Northwest Athletic Conference cross country championships at West Park.

The Vikings, ranked 11th in the latest United State Cross Country Coaches Association Top 25, placed four runners in the top 10 and six in the top 20 in claiming the GNAC championship for the second straight time and for the third time in five years.

John Riak of Saint Martin's won the 8,000-meter race in 24:56.77, but Western's Daniel Phillips (R-Fr., Olympia) was second in 25:05.96, and Bennett Grimes (R-Fr., Pocatello, ID/Century) placed third in 25:09.03. Phillips, who earned GNAC Freshman of the Year honors, was the fourth different runner to lead the Vikings this season.

Blake Medhaug (R-Fr., Bothell) placed eighth (25:40.82) for Western and Jordan Welling (Fr., Burlington/Burlington-Edison) was 10th (25:56.31), helping the Vikings score 35 points, matching their total of 2006 despite being without Anthony Tomsich (Jr., Fairbanks/West Valley), who finished third last year but sat out Saturday to rest a sore achilles' tendon.

"It was a very solid performance," said Western coach Pee Wee Halsell. "Everyone ran very well."

Jon Skelton (Sr., Mount Vernon) placed 12th (26:02.13), Keith Lemay (Sr., Lynden/Lynden Christian) was 20th (26:24.08) and Keever Henry (Sr., Kelso) placed 31st (26:50.28).

Western Oregon was second with 67 points. Alaska Anchorage, ranked 17th nationally, placed third at 81.

On the women's side, Western's Sarah Porter (Fr., Hockinson) earned Freshman of the Year honors in helping the Vikings to finish seventh. Porter was the lone Viking in the top 10, finishing the 6,000-meter course in 22:21.97.

Valerie Mathews (So., Sammamish/Bellevue) was 29th (23:38.92), Keely Kaligis (Sr., Mukilto/Kamiak) placed 34th (23:55.54) and Courtney Olsen (So., Bellingham/Squalicum) was 39th (24:06.49).

Seattle Pacific, led by individual champion Jessica Pixler, won the women's title for the third straight time. Pixler won for the second straight year, finishing in 20:53.48.

The Falcons, ranked No.7 nationally, finished with 24 points, placing five runners in the top 10, including three of the top four. Western Oregon was second with 99 points and Northwest Nazarene third at 110.

Jessica Harper of Western Oregon was selected women's Newcomer of the Year Peter Doner of Alaska Anchorage was men's Newcomer of the Year

The Vikings return to Idaho Nov. 3 for the NCAA Division II West Regional at Eagle Island Park in Boise.

Oct. 20 - Seventh Annual Great Northwest Athletic Conference Cross Country Championships - Nampa, Id. (West Park)

MEN
TEAM RESULTS - 1. Western Washington 35, 2. Western Oregon 67, 3. Alaska Anchorage 81, 4. Central Washington 141, 5. Alaska Fairbanks 151, 6. Seattle U. 163, 7. Northwest Nazarene 164, 8. St. Martin's 179, 9. Seattle Pacific 218, 10. Montana State - Billings 296.

WWU INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (8K)- 2. Daniel Phillips 25:05, 3. Bennett Grimes 25:09, 8. Blake Medhaug 25:40, 10. Jordan Welling 25:56, 12. Jon Skelton 26:02, 31. Keever Henry 26:50, 36. Taheme Khalsa 26:59, 45. Kyle Lampi 27:12, 61. Josh Beck 27:56.

TOP 10 - 1. John Riak, St. Martin's, 24:56; 2. Daniel Phillips, Western Washington, 25:05; 3. Bennett Grimes, Western Washington, 25:09; 4. Sam Scotchmer, Central Washington, 25:17; 5. Kevin Lambert, Northwest Nazarene, 25:26; 6. Mike Schmidt, Western Oregon, 25:33; 7. Peter Doner, Alaska Anchorage, 25:39; 8. Blake Medhaug, Western Washington, 25:40; 9. Braxton Jackson, Western Oregon, 25:42; 10. Jordan Welling, Western Washington, 25:56.

WOMEN
TEAM RESULTS - 1. Seattle Pacific 24, 2. Western Oregon 99, 3. Northwest Nazarene 110, 4. Alaska Anchorage 123, 5. Seattle U. 131, 6. Central Washington 139, 7. Western Washington 151, 8. St. Martin's 188, 9. Alaska Fairbanks 192, 10. Montana State - Billings 233.

WWU INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (6K) - 9. Sarah Porter 22:21, 29. Valerie Matthews 23:38, 34. Keely Kaligis 23:55, 39. Courtney Olsen 24:06, 44. Danielle Slaughter 24:18, 51. Maeve Sayres 24:25, 56. Shellane Jensen 24:37, 68. Nicole D'Amico 25:02, 69. Cheryl Watson 25:02, 74. Emily Mosich 25:27.

TOP 10 - 1. Jessica Pixler, Seattle Pacific, 20:53; 2. Jane Larson, Seattle Pacific, 21:45; 3. Ashley Puga, Northwest Nazarene, 21:48; 4. Suzie Strickler, Seattle Pacific, 22:06; 5. Katie Hansen, Seattle U., 22:07; 6. Marcie Mullen, Central Washington, 22:08; 7. Karin Rohde, Seattle Pacific, 22:16; 8. Elizabeth Chepkosgei, Alaska Anchorage, 22:18; 9. Sarah Porter, Western Washington, 22:21; 10. Kate Harline, Seattle Pacific, 22:24.