Oct. 8, 2002

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Four of the nine cross country teams in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference come to Lake Padden Park on Saturday to compete in the 29th annual Western Washington University Invitational Meet.

The 10-kilometer men's race begins at 10:30 a.m., with the 6-kilometer women's race following at 11:15 a.m.

Western is joined by fellow GNAC schools Central Washington, Saint Martin's, and Seattle Pacific. A handful of other schools and club teams complete the field.

"It would be nice to have the rest of the conference here, but this will still be a good indication of where our teams are at," said Western coach Pee Wee Halsell. "We'll need to be at our best."

Central Washington won the men's championship last year, edging Western, which has won the event six times, most recently in 2000. The Vikings have never won the women's race, but finished second last year behind Club Northwest.

"The first 10-k is really important for our younger guys. They need to do it once so they understand the difference and don't go into regionals unprepared. For the women, the 6-k isn't as big a difference, but it's still important to experience it." Head Coach Pee Wee Halsell

The Vikings have candidates for individual honors in both the men's and women's races. For the men, Paul Kezes (Jr., Bellingham/Sehome), a transfer from Western State, Colo., won the invitational section at the Sundodger Classic in Seattle on Sept. 21, missing the course record by just two seconds. For the women, Ashlee Vincent (So., Bellingham/Squalicum), a West Region all-star last year, has been in the top four of all three races she has run this season, being the top finisher in a dual meet with Seattle Pacific last week.

It will be the only time during the regular season that the men run at the 10-kilometer distance used in the NCAA West Regional Championships at Fresno, Calif., on Nov. 9, and the first time the women have run at the regional 6-kilometer distance.

"The first 10-k is really important for our younger guys," said Halsell. "They need to do it once so they understand the difference and don't go into regionals unprepared. For the women, the 6-k isn't as big a difference, but it's still important to experience it."