Nov. 4, 2006

Complete Results

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - The Western Washington University men's cross country team narrowly missed out on an NCAA Division II National Championship berth on Saturday, finishing fourth at the NCAA II West Regional at Forebay Aquatics Center.

The top three men's teams qualified for the national meet. Western, ranked No.13 in the latest United States Cross Country Coaches Association top 25, finished with 121 points, just two behind third-place and No.16 Alaska Anchorage and five back of second-place and No.14 Cal Poly Pomona. No.3 Chico State won the 14-team men's championship with just 32 points, putting four runners among the top eight finishers.

"It's a disappointing end to our season," said head coach Pee Wee Halsell. "With a slightly better team performance on the men's side, we would be heading to nationals. I'm still proud, they gave their best today and they should keep their heads up."

Western's top three finishers were less than four seconds apart. Bul Nyuop (Jr., Lacey/North Thurston) paced the Vikings by finishing 17th, covering the 10-kilometer course in 33:25.83. Anthony Tomsich (So., Fairbanks, AK/West Valley) was 18th in 33:27.85, and Chad Portwood (Sr., Cheney) was 21st in 33:29.05.

Keith Lemay (Jr., Lynden/Lynden Christian) was 28th for the Vikings (33:48.34), with Keever Henry (Jr., Kelso) 37th (34:04:82), Sam Brancheau (Sr., Edmonds/Edmonds-Woodway) 40th (34:10.87) and Logan Senrud (Sr., Bigfork, MT) 57th (34:53.15).

"Bul (Nyuop), Chad (Portwood), Anthony (Tomsich) and Keith (Lemay) ran great races for us today and put us in a position to challenge for a top-three finish," said Halsell.

Todd Iacovelli of Hawaii Pacific was the individual champion, finishing 31:58.35, more than 11 seconds ahead of second-place Charlie Serrano of Chico State.

Western won the Great Northwest Athletic Conference championship two weeks ago, finishing 18 points ahead of runner-up Alaska Anchorage.

In the women's race, the Vikings placed 14th out of 17 teams. Molly DePasqual (Sr., Jackson, WY) led Western by finishing 50th, covering the 6-kilometer course in 23:31.89. Marissa Harshman (Jr., Vancouver/Heritage) was 80th in 24:15.78.

Ashley McDougall (So., Redmond), Western's top runner in every other meet this season, did not finish.

"We got some great races from our upperclassmen." said Halsell. "Molly (DePasqual) had a great run in her last collegiate race and Melissa (Harshman) really did well, but as a team, it just was not our day."

Cal State L.A. won the women's team championship with 67 points, just three points ahead of Seattle Pacific. UC San Diego, which was third with 77, and Chico State, fourth at 78, also earned national berths.

Jessica Pixler, a freshman from Seattle Pacific, won the individual title in 20:46.10.

NCAA Division II West Regional Oroville, Calif. (Forebay Aquatics Center) - host Chico State

MEN

TEAM RESULTS (10K) - 1. Chico State 32, 2. Cal Poly Pomona 116, 3. Alaska Anchorage 119, 4. Western Washington 121, 5. UC San Diego 161, 6. BYU Hawaii 165, 7. Hawaii Pacific 238, 8. Western Oregon 242, T-9. Seattle Pacific 250, T-9. Cal State Stanislaus 250, 11. Humboldt State 285, 12. Central Washington 302, 13. Hawaii-Hilo 315, 14. San Francisco State 320.

WWU INDIVIDUAL RESULTS - 17. Bul Nyuop 33:35.83, 18. Anthony Tomsich 33:27.55, 21. Chad Portwood 33:29.05, 28. Keith Lemay 33:48.34, 37. Keever Henry 34:04.82, 40. Sam Brancheau 34:10.87, 57. Logan Senrud 34:53.15.

TOP TEN - 1. Todd Iacovelli, Hawaii Pacific, 31:58.35; 2. Charlie Serrano, Chico State, 32:09.72; 3. Antonio Miramontes, Chico State, 32:13.89; 4. John Riak, Saint Martin's, 32:24.52; 5. David Kiplagat, Alaska Anchorage, 32:31.55; 6. Scott Bauhs, Chico State, 32:34.42; 7. Sam Scotchmer, Central Washington, 32:29.34; 8. Kyle Ivie, Chico State, 32:51.55; 9. Eddie Venegas, Cal Poly Pomona, 33:02.15; Brandon Laan, Hawaii Pacific, 33:04.05.

WOMEN

TEAM RESULTS (6K) - 1. Cal State L.A. 67, 2. Seattle Pacific 70, 3. UC San Diego 76, 4. Chico State 77, 5. Alaska Anchorage 109, 6. Central Washington 171, 7. Cal State Stanislaus 225, 8. Cal Poly Pomona 250, 9. Western Oregon 254, 10. San Francisco State 280, 11. Cal State San Bernardino 302, 12. Humboldt State 334, 13. Hawaii-Hilo 370, 14. Western Washington 389, 15. BYU Hawaii 399, T-16 Saint Martin's 422, T-16 Seattle University 422, 18. Hawaii Pacific 441.

WWU INDIVIDUAL RESULTS - 50. Molly DePasqual 23:31.89, 80. Marissa Harshman 24:19.48, 85. Danielle Slaughter 24:35.45, 91. Keely Kaligis 24:41.12, 92. McKinley Williams 24:26.24, 118. Allison Graham 26:41.12, Ashley MacDougal DNF

TOP TEN - 1. Jessica Pixler, Seattle Pacific, 20:46.10; 2. Mary Torres, Chico State, 20:56.93; 3. Katie Hummel, Central Washington, 21:10.90; 4. Pilar Delgado, Cal State L.A., 21:25.60; 5. Karla Alburez, Cal State L.A., 21:27.09; 6. Diane Dunn, UC San Diego, 21:31.05; 7. Maija Rhode, Cal State L.A., 21:37.22; 8. Sarah Montez, Chico State, 21:39.84; 9. Laura Carr, Alaska Anchorage, 21:47.00; 10. Emily McGregor, UC San Diego, 21:47.41.