Nov. 1, 2004

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Western Washington University All-American Laura Trevellyan (Jr., Vashon Island) is looking to qualify for a second straight trip to nationals as the Vikings host the NCAA Division II West Regional Cross Country Championships on Sat., Nov. 6 at Lake Padden Park.

It is the third time that Western has been the regional host in seven years as a NCAA II member, the others being 1998 and 2001. The 10-kilometer men's race starts at 10:30 a.m., followed by the women's 6-kilometer run at 11:45 a.m.

The top three teams in both the men's and women's divisions advance to the national championships at Evansville, Ind., on Nov. 20. The top two individuals from non-qualifying teams qualify for nationals, and there is a provision for any individual from a non-qualifying team placing in the top five going to nationals.

Trevellyan placed 21st at nationals last year after finishing fifth at regionals. She has been Western's top finisher in every meet this fall, placing second at the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships.

"Laura knows how to compete at the big meets, and she's peaking at the right time," said Viking coach Pee Wee Halsell.

Chico State is the pre-meet favorite to win both the men's and women's team titles. The defending champion Wildcat women are ranked No.4 nationally in the NCAA II Cross Country Coaches' Top 25, and the men, who have won the last two regional crowns, are also rated No.4 nationally.

Chico State dominated the California Collegiate Athletic Association Championships on Oct. 23, the women sweeping the top five places, and the men putting seven runners among the top 10.

"Chico State is very strong," Halsell said. "Outside of a miracle, they'll be regional champions again. For their women to score a perfect 15 at the CCAA meet is absolutely amazing."

Expected to provide the toughest competition for the Wildcat men are nationally No.19-ranked Cal Poly Pomona and No.21 UC San Diego. The UC San Diego women, rated No.11 nationally, could also challenge Chico State. The Cal Poly Pomona men placed second at the CCAA Championships as did the UC San Diego women.

Seattle Pacific and Alaska Anchorage, who placed 1-2 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championship men's standings, could also challenge for that third national berth.

"It's a real toss-up for that third spot," said Halsell of the 19-team men's field. "You never know what's going to happen."

Halsell said the same is true for GNAC champion Central Washington and runner-up Seattle Pacific for the third and final national berth in the 22-team women's run.

Cal Poly Pomona features two of the favorites to win the men's individual title in Daniel Rojas and Mark Batres, who finished 1-2 at the CCAA Championships. Chico State's Patrick Boivin, along with some of his Wildcat teammates, will also contend.

Joining Trevellyan as favorites for the women's individual title are Brigham Young-Hawaii's Chelsea Smith and Seattle Pacific's Karen Dickson.

Smith is the reigning NCAA II national and regional champion, while Dickson has won all five meets she's competed in this fall, including the Western Invitational at Lake Padden Park on Oct. 9. Chico State also has runners who should battle for the title, led by CCAA champion Jennifer James.

Western could also challenge in the men's run. The Vikings graduated four of their top five runners from a 2003 team the placed fourth at regionals and 13th at nationals.

Leading the Vikings are Sam Brancheau (So., Edmonds/Edmonds-Woodway) and Keever Henry (Fr., Kelso), who placed eighth and 10th, respectively, at the GNAC meet. Henry was named GNAC Male Freshman of the Year. Another mainstay is Logan Senrud (So., Bigfork, MT) and Keith Lemay (Fr., Lynden/Lynden Christian), who did not compete in the league meet because of illness, is back at full strength.

"Our men are young, but we should be peaking for this meet," said Halsell. "This is a team that's going to be very strong in the future, and the championship meets are where you really mature."

Joining Trevellyan in the Vikings' bid to improve on last year's seventh-place regional finish are Sara Thon (Fr., Bellingham/Squalicum), Molly DePasqual (Jr., Jackson, WY), and Rachael Bates (So., Coeur d'Alene, ID/Lake City).

"We've been trying to recover from injuries and illnesses all season," Halsell said. "We've had three of our five top runners suffer and that's kept them out of training which can really hurt you."