Oct. 25, 2007

West Regional Website

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - After a near-miss last year, the nationally ranked Western Washington University men's cross country team needs a top three finish to make its first national appearance since 2003 when it competes in the NCAA Division II West Regional on Saturday, Nov. 3, at Eagle Island Park in Boise, Id. (host Northwest Nazarene University).

The 6-kilometer women's race begins at 11 a.m., followed by the 10-kilometer men's race at 12:15 p.m.

The top three teams in the men's division and the top four squads in the women's division earn berths at the NCAA II National Championships two weeks later at Joplin, Missouri (host Missouri Southern State University). The top two individuals from non-qualifying teams also gain national berths, and any individual finishing in the top five also is guaranteed a national spot.

Western head coach Pee Wee Halsell (21st year) said his men's squad, coming off a second straight title-winning performance (and third in five years) at the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships on Oct. 20, should be a top three contender. The Vikings are ranked No.2 regionally and No.11 in the United States Cross Country Coaches Association/NCAA II Top 25.

Western placed fourth (121) last year at regionals, just two points behind third-place Alaska Anchorage (119) and only five back of second-place Cal Poly Pomona (116). Chico State won its fifth straight title, having four runners among the top eight individuals, to finish with 32 points.

"If any one of our top five guys could have run just a little better, we would have gone to nationals," said Western coach Pee Wee Halsell. "That's what hurt so much."

Chico State, ranked sixth nationally and first regionally this fall, again figures to be the team to beat. The Wildcats had an awesome performance in winning the California Collegiate Athletic Association title, placing two through seven.

Also expected to be in the battle for a national berth are Cal State Stanislaus, Western Oregon, UC San Diego and Alaska Anchorage.

"Our team is going in realizing that we all have to have a good race," Halsell said. "They're not going to be looking for someone else to pick up the slack."

Among Western's seven-man contingent are four freshmen, all of whom earned all-conference recognition by placing among the top 10 at the GNAC meet. They are 2007 GNAC Male Freshman of the Year Daniel Phillips (R-Fr., Olympia), who placed second at the league championships; Bennett Grimes (R-Fr., Pocatello, ID/Century), Blake Medhaug (R-Fr., Bothell) and Jordan Welling (Fr., Burlington/Burlington-Edison).

Rounding out the squad are Anthony Tomsich (Jr., Fairbanks, AK/West Valley), who missed the league meet to rest a sore achilles' tendon, Jon Skelton (Sr., Mount Vernon/West Point) and Keith Lemay (Sr., Lynden/Lynden Christian.)

It is the fourth regional appearance for Lemay and the third for Tomsich. During the regular season, the Vikings had four different runners lead the team. They were Grimes, Medhaug, Phillips and Tomsich, who earned all-conference honors in 2006 by placing third.

Western's only trip to the NCAA II nationals was in 2003 when four teams qualified from regionals and the Vikings placed fourth. They went on to finish 13th at nationals.

In all, Western has made 11 national appearances, 10 of them as a NAIA member, with its highest finishes being fifth in 1995 and sixth in 1992.

On the women's side, Cal State L.A. is favored to repeat as regional champion, with Seattle Pacific, Chico State and UC San Diego the favorites to get the other national berths. All four teams are ranked among the top 10 nationally with Cal State L.A. No.4, Seattle Pacific No.6, Chico State No.7 and UC San Diego No.10.

Last year, Cal State L.A. snapped a string of three titles by Chico State. Seattle Pacific is led by two-time conference champion Jessica Pixler, who is the defending regional titlist.

Western, which placed seventh at the GNAC championships, in led by 2007 Female Freshman of the Year Sarah Porter (Fr., Hockinson), who placed ninth. Porter has been the Vikings' top finisher in every race this fall.

Also representing Western are Shellane Jensen (Jr., Sedro-Woolley), Keely Kaligis (Sr., Mukilteo/Kamiak), Valerie Matthews (So., Sammamish/Skyline), Courtney Olsen (So., Bellingham/Squalicum), Maeve Sayres (Fr., Valleyford/Freeman), Danielle Slaughter (So., Spokane/Shadle Park).