Oct. 26, 2006

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - With its nationally ranked men's team needing a top three finish to make its first national appearance since 2003, Western Washington University competes in the NCAA Division II West Regional on Saturday, Nov. 4, at Forebay Aquatics Center in Oroville, Calif.

The 10-kilometer men's event begins at 9 a.m., followed by the 6-kilometer women's race at 10:15 a.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 Pensacola, Florida. 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 (20th year) said his men's squad, coming off a title-winning performance (school's first since 2003) at the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships on Oct. 21 and currently ranked No.12 in the United States Cross Country Coaches Association, should be a top three contender. The Vikings placed fourth last year.

Host Chico State, ranked No.3 nationally, is the odds-on favorite to win its fifth straight regional crown. No.13 Cal Poly Pomona and No.16 Alaska Anchorage are expected to be Western's chief rivals for second and third. Chico State is rated No.1 in the West Region with Western second, Cal Poly Pomona third and Alaska Anchorage fourth.

"It's going to be a battle," said Halsell. "The three teams after Chico are really, really tight. The national rankings show more gap than there is. We're going to have to run the race we did at conference and maybe even a little better. But I believe our guys are ready to go and I think we will."

Competing for the Vikings are Sam Brancheau (Sr., Edmonds/Edmonds-Woodway), Keever Henry (Jr., Kelso), Keith Lemay (So., Lynden/Lynden Christian), Bul Nyuop (Jr., Lacey/North Thurston), Chad Portwood (Sr., Cheney), Logan Senrud (Sr., Bigfork, MT) and Anthony Tomsich (So., Fairbanks, AK/West Valley).

At the GNAC meet, Tomsich (third), Portwood (sixth) and Henry (seventh) all earned all-conference honors by placing among the top 10.

Five of Western's seven-man contingent competed at regionals last year, Henry and Nyuop being the newcomers. Senrud placed 17th to lead the Vikings in 2005, with Brancheau finishing 22nd.

Western's last trip to nationals was three years ago when four teams qualified and the Vikings placed fourth. They went on to finish 13th in the school's first and only NCAA national appearance.

In all, Western has made 11 national appearances, including seven at the NAIA Championships from 1989-97. The Vikings' highest finishes were fifth in 1995 and sixth in 1992.

In the regional women's run, No.10-ranked Chico State is looking for its fourth straight regional crown. GNAC champion Seattle Pacific, ranked No.8 nationally, is expected to give the Wildcats their biggest challenge.

Three more West Region teams ranked among the top 25 nationally are No.14 Cal State L.A., No.16 Alaska Anchorage and No.19 UC San Diego.

Seattle Pacific tops the latest regional ratings with Chico State second, Cal State L.A. third and Alaska Anchorage fourth.

Western, which placed ninth last year, will be led by Ashley McDougall (So., Redmond), who finished 17th at the conference meet. She has been the team's top placer in every outing this season.

Also representing the Vikings are Molly DePasqual (Sr., Jackson, WY/Jackson Hole), Allison Graham (Fr., Mill Creek/Jackson), Marissa Harshman (Jr., Vancouver/Heritage), Keely Kaligis (Jr., Mukilteo/Kamiak), Danielle Slaughter (Fr., Spokane/Shadle Park) and McKinley Williams (Fr., Federal Way/Todd Beamer).