Oct. 3, 2006

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Western Washington University's nationally ranked men's cross country team is favored to repeat Saturday at the 33rd annual Viking Invitational at Lake Padden Park. The women's 6-kilometer run begins at 10:30 a.m., and the men's 10-kilometer race starts at 11:15 a.m.

The Viking men, rated No.16 in the latest United State Cross Country Coaches Association Top 25, have won team titles four of the past six seasons. The women finished third in 2005 after placing fourth in each of the previous two years.

Expected to pace the Western men are Sam Brancheau (Sr., Edmonds/Edmonds-Woodway), Keever Henry (Jr., Kelso), Bul Nyuop (Jr., Lacey/North Thurston), Chad Portwood (Sr., Cheney), Logan Senrud (Sr., Bigfork, MT) and Anthony Tomsich (So., Fairbanks, AK/West Valley). Tomsich was the Vikings' top runner in their first two meets, and Senrud led at last week's Willamette Invitational.

Ashley McDougall (Fr., Redmond) has paced the Viking women in all four of their outings this fall.

"It's going to be a great meet," said Western head coach Pee Wee Halsell. "The entries are up, so the competition should be up."

Runners from 10 schools are competing. They will represent Alaska Anchorage (women only), British Columbia, Central Washington, Everett CC, Evergreen, Saint Martin's, Seattle U., Seattle Pacific and Simon Fraser. Club Northwest also is participating.

Simon Fraser is favored in the women's division, but will be challenged by last year's champion Seattle Pacific. Central Washington won in 2004.

Seattle Pacific is ranked No.9 nationally this week, and Alaska Anchorage is No.17.

The Western men have won the WWU Invitational nine times. The lone victory for the Viking women came in 2002.