Sept. 8, 2004

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - There's a bit of a contrast between the men's and women's cross country teams at Western Washington University as the 2004 season begins.

The men made their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division II National Championships last year, placing 13th, and also won the Great Northwest Athletic Conference championship. But the top four from last season are gone, leaving a younger squad to fill the gaps. For the women, nearly everyone returns, led by NCAA II All-American Laura Trevellyan (Vashon), a junior who competed in the national meet as an individual, placing 21st.

Bolstering the Viking hopes is that Western is hosting the NCAA II West Regional at Lake Padden Park on Nov. 6 for the third time in seven years.

"It's good to be at home, because we don't have all the travel and we know the course really well," said Western coach Pee Wee Halsell (18th year). "Of course, other schools love coming to Bellingham for regionals, too. The course is great, and we usually have true cross country weather at that time of year."

Although the men gained a national berth with a fourth-place regional finish last year, this season only the top three teams in both the men's and women's fields qualify. The women were seventh regionally and fourth in the GNAC.

MEN

The men are young, with no seniors on the roster, but three performers who ran at the NCAA II national meet return.

Leading that group is sophomore Logan Senrud (Bigfork, MT). He placed 28th in the GNAC meet, 61st at regionals, and 130th at nationals. Another sophomore, Sam Brancheau (Edmonds/Edmonds-Woodway), was 38th in the GNAC, 43rd at regionals, and 155th at nationals.

The third member of that group is a junior, Justin McNeil (Tacoma/Frankin Pierce), who was 36th in the GNAC, 74th at the regional meet, and 172nd at nationals.

"We lost a magical group in that top four, which hurts," said Halsell. "But we can still be a force in the conference race. The three guys we have back who went to nationals did well and they look good for this year."

Sophomore Ryan Albright (Port Orchard/Peninsula) was in the top 10 last year, placing 56th in the GNAC meet, as was junior Matt Crabtree (Lynden), one of just two two-year letter winners on the squad, who finished 61st at the GNAC. The other two-year letter winner, junior Brandon Whitaker (Marysville/Marysville-Pilchuck), returns after being a redshirt last year because of a broken ankle. He was 53rd in the GNAC and 62nd at regionals in 2002.

Among the standouts in an excellent freshman class is James Sundquist (Clinton/South Whidbey), who was fourth in the Class 2A state championships and won the Class 2A 3,200 meters in track and field; and Mike Stewart (Edmonds/Edmonds-Woodway), who was 19th in the Class 4A championships.

WOMEN

Trevellyan was Western's top runner in all eight races she competed in last season, placing third in the GNAC Championships and fifth in the regional meet, finishing ninth or better in every race except the national championships.

"She's training well and she's very competitive," Halsell said of Trevellyan. "If she gets back to nationals as an individual, then she's helping the team, as well. There's a lot of weight on her shoulders, but she can handle it."

Trevellyan isn't the only top performer back. In fact, all seven of the runners who competed in the regional meet return, all of whom finished in the top 50.

Heading that group are senior Beth Rosapepe (Port Orchard/South Kitsap), a three-year letter winner who earned national all-academic honors from the Cross Country Coaches of America and placed 17th in the GNAC meet and 39th in the regional championship; and senior Kristin Haas (Port Orchard/South Kitsap), who was 24th in the GNAC and 63rd at regionals. Junior Molly DePasqual (Jackson, WY/Jackson Hole) was 37th in the conference meet and 59th at regionals.

"None of those (top seven) kids were stars in high school, including Laura," Halsell said. "But they've done the work here. We had kids this summer who didn't work their traditional summer jobs so they could train together. It's exciting to see that."

There's more depth available from some newcomers. Sophomore Summer Huntington (Marysville/Marysville-Pilchuck) was 61st at the regional meet for Seattle Pacific last year, and freshman Sara Thon (Bellingham/Squalicum) was eighth at the Class 3A state championships as a high school senior. Junior Katrina Schwerdtfeger (Mountlake Terrace), a transfer from Everett CC, could also be a factor.

"We're in contention for the GNAC title," Halsell said. "This is the year we can make a push."