GNAC Cross Country Season Begins Saturday
Aug. 31, 2006
SPOKANE, Wash. - Four of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference cross country teams begin their 2006 schedules Saturday in meets at Fort Steilacoom, Walla Walla and Forest Grove, Ore.
The Alaska Nanooks and Saint Martin\'s make their debuts at the Puget Sound Open in Fort Steilacoom, while Northwest Nazarene travels to Walla Walla to compete in the Whitman Invitational and Western Oregon debuts at the Pacific Boxer Rebellion.
Seattle University, Seattle Pacific and Western Washington open their seasons a week later at the Emerald City Invitational at Woodland Park in Seattle, while Central Washington debuts in the Lewis & Clark Invitational in Portland. Alaska Anchorage doesn\'t open its season until Sept. 16 when it will compete in the Sundodger Invitational at Lincoln Park in Seattle.
The Seawolves are the defending conference men\'s champions and return three all-conference performers - David Kiplagat, Aaron Dickson and Drew Dickson. Kiplagat finished second to earn the GNAC Freshman-of-the-Year award, while the Dickson brothers were fifth and 10th, respectively, in last year\'s championship meet.
Only one other male runner from last year\'s Top 10 return this fall - Logan Senrud of Western Washington, who placed sixth. Kevin Lambert of Northwest Nazarene, who finished eighth a year ago, will redshirt this year. Back after a redshirt year is Central Washington\'s Sam Scotchmer, who finished sixth in the 2004 conference meet.
On the women\'s side four all-conference performers return. Back for the Seawolves, who finished second in the conference meet behind Seattle Pacific but then earned a berth in the national meet with a third-place finish at regionals, are Mandy Kaempf and Laura Carr. Kaempf placed third and Carr was 10th a year ago.
Also back from the Top 10 are Mary Moriarty of Seattle Pacific, who finished seventh to earn GNAC Freshman-of-the-Year honors, and Rachael Bailey of Central Washington, who placed eighth.
This year\'s conference meet will be hosted by Saint Martin\'s on Oct. 21. Alaska Anchorage returns seven of its 10 male runners that led the Seawolves to the title a year ago. Seattle Pacific has the most returnees with all 10 back from last year\'s conference meet lineup. Western Washington returns eight,, while Central Washington has seven returnees plus two - Scotchmer and Geoff Anderson - who competed in the 2004 meet. CWU also has added Jonathon Rank, who posted the third best 10,000-meter time in the conference last spring.
On the women\'s side, UAA has the most returnees from last year\'s meet with eight back. Central returns seven runners from last year\'s third-place team, plus the Wildcats have added former Texas A&M runner Katie Hummel, who had the conference\'s best time in the mile and 3,000 in last year\'s indoor season.
Seattle Pacific, which has won two of the last three women\'s titles, returns six. The Falcons also added several outstanding freshmen, including Kate Harline from Orem, Utah, and Jessica Pixler from Eastlake (Sammamish), Jane Larson from Cedar Park Christian (Fall City) and Lisa Anderberg from Kamiak (Edmonds). Pixler is also a defender on SPU\'s soccer team and will split her time between the two sports.
Following the conference meet Oct. 21 at Lacey, GNAC teams will compete in the NCAA West Regionals Nov. 4 at Oroville, Calif. The top four women\'s teams and the top three men\'s teams in the regional plus the top two individuals not on a qualify team as well as anyone else among the Top 5 will advance to the NCAA national meet Nov. 18 at Pensacola, Fla.
Last year, UAA finished 12th in the women\'s national meet and 20th in the men\'s meet. Among the individuals, the top returning finishers from last year\'s national meet are Kaempf, who placed 46th, and Kiplagat, who finished 47th.
2006 GNAC CROSS COUNTRY SCHEDULE
September: 2 - Puget Sound Open at Fort Steilacoom (UAF, SMU); Lake Padden Relays (SPU intersquad); Whitman Invitational (NNU); Pacific Boxer Rebellion (WOU). 6 - SMU-Evergreen State dual. 8 - Western Oregon Twilight (WOU). 9 - Chico State Invitational (SPU); Emerald City at Woodland Park (SPU, WWU); NNU Hampton Inn Fall Classic (NNU); Lewis & Clark Invitational (CWU). 15 - Catholic College Championships at South Bend, Ind. (SMU). 16 - Sundodger Invitational at Lincoln Park (CWU, WWU, SPU, SU, UAA, NNU men). 23 - CWU Appleridge Run at Naches (CWU, UAF, NNU); Saint Martin\'s Invitational (WWU, WOU, SPU, UAA, SMU). 30 - Willamette Invitational (CWU, UAA, SU, NNU women, SMU), Alumni at Seattle Pacific.
October: 7 - Western Washington Invitational (CWU, WWU, SU, SPU); UAA Invitational (UAA); Eastern Oregon Invitational (NNU); UC San Diego Triton Invitational (WOU); Evergreen Invitational (SMU). 21 - GNAC Championships at Lacey. 28 - Bellevue CC Invitational (SPU, SMU).
November: 4 - NCAA West Regionals (at Oroville, Calif.). 18 - NCAA Nationals (at Pensacola, Fla.).
TEAM-BY-TEAM PREVIEWS
ALASKA ANCHORAGE Seawolves
Head Coach: Michael Friess, Linfield \'85 (17h year)
Assistants: Leslie Boyd
2005 Conference Finish: Men - 1st, 39. Women - 2nd, 71..
2005 National Finish: Men - 20th, 490 (West, 3rd, 106). Women - 12th, 350 (West, 3rd, 129).
Returning Conference Finishers: Men (7) - David Kiplagat (So., 2nd,
25:57); Aaron Dickson (Sr., 5th, 26:29); Drew Dickson (Sr., 10th
26:38); Mick Boyle (So., 13th, 26:47); Stig Yngve (Jr., 35th, 27:39);
Auston Ellis (So., 47th, 28:11); Cornelius Sigei (So., 70th, 29:22).
Women (8) - Mandy Kaempf (Sr., 3rd, 22:36); Laura Carr (So., 10th,
23:22); Davya Baker (Sr., 17th, 23:47); Danielle Pratt (Sr., 34th,
24:47); Mary Krusen (Sr., 36th, 24:51); Kaley Strachen (Jr., 40th,
24:57); Brittany Greer (So., 42nd, 25:04); Mary Pearce (Sr., 59th,
25:45).
ALASKA FAIRBANKS Nanooks
Head Coach: Scott Jerome, Bates \'83 (3rd year)
Assistant: Ingrid Olson
2005 Conference Finish: Men - 10th, 236. Women - 6th, 148.
2005 National Finish: Women - 18th, 440 (West Regional).
Returning Conference Finishers: Men (0) - None. Women (2) - Julia
Coulter (So., 45th, 25:07); Anna Coulter (So., 46th, 25:08).
CENTRAL WASHINGTON Wildcats
Head Coach: Kevin Adkisson, Willamette \'91 (13th year).
Assistants: TBA
2005 Conference Finish: Men - 8th, 207. Women - 3rd , 91.
2005 National Finish: Men - 15th, 353 (West Regional). Women - 6th, 197 (West Regional).
Returning Conference Finishers: Men (7) -Brian Rockenbach (Sr., 23rd,
27:07); James Roach (Sr., 45th, 28:05); Dan Ferguson (Sr., 48th, 28:17);
James Bolding (So., 63rd, 28:54); Corey Cronkhite (So., 66th, 29:02);
Kevin Oberholser (So., 67th, 29:03); Sean Doyle (Jr., 77th, 30:14).
Note: Sam Scotchmer (Jr.) and Geoff Anderson (Sr.), who placed sixth
(26:40) and 37th (27:37) in 2004, also return after redshirting in
2005. Women (7) - Rachel Bailey (Sr., 8th, 23:12); Sarah Benson (Jr.,
13th, 23:40); Marcie Mullen (Jr., 24th, 23:59); Amber Green (Sr., 47th,
25:08); Jamie Koch (Jr., 70th, 26:29); Nicole Cullop (Jr., 76th, 26:46);
Tanja Owen (Jr., 78th, 26:52).
NORTHWEST NAZARENE Crusaders
Head Coach: John Spatz, Eastern Washington `88 (5th year)
Assistants: Ben Gall, Aaron Matthias
2005 Conference Finish: Men - 5th, 149. Women - 5th, 138.
2005 National Finish: Men - 13th, 338 (West Regional). Women - 15th , 403 (West Regional)
Returning Conference Finishers: Men (1) - Kyle Gray (So., 75th, 29:54).
Note: Kevin Lambert (Sr., 8th, 26:32) is redshirting. Women (6) -
Ashley Puga (So., 19th, 23:50); Rebecca Mishler (Jr., 28th, 24:24);
Holly Mishler (Jr., 38th, 24:52); Macey Blaine (So., 58th, 25:43);
Shannon DeBoer (So., 60th, 25:48); Hannah Larkin (So., 77th, 26:49).
SAINT MARTIN\'S Saints
Head Coach: Julie Sullivan, Seattle Pacific (1st year).
Assistants: TBA
2005 Conference Finish: Men - 9th, 231. Women - 10th , 245.
2005 National Finish: Men - 16th, 443 (West Regional). Women - 20th , 520.
Returning Conference Finishers: Men (6) - John Riak (So., 16th, 26:54);
Seth Woods (Sr., 42nd, 27:56); Robbie Wilbur (Sr., 69th, 29:15); Caleb
Timmer (Jr., 71st, 29:23); Steve LaLonde (Jr., 78th, 30:21); Kevin Tober
(So., 84th, 34:31). Women (5) - Kaleigh Bishop (Jr., 33rd, 24:43);
Jessica Pendon (So., 67th, 26:14); Lakita Burr (Sr., 74th, 26:35);
Chelsi Claussen (So., 75th, 26:38); Katelynn Blume (Sr., 85th, 29:33).
SEATTLE PACIFIC Falcons
Head Coach: Doris Heritage, Seattle Pacific \'64 (29th year)
Assistants: Erika Daligcon, Lane Seeley
2005 Conference Finish: Men - 4th, 97. Women - 1st, 54.
2005 National Finish: Men - 5th, 172 (West Regional). Women - 4th, 134 (West Regional).
Returning Conference Finishers: Men (10) - Carlo Lozano (Jr., 11th,
26:42); Brian Cronrath (Jr., 14th, 26:48); Bjorn Bostrom (Sr., 17th,
26:55); James Rosser (Sr., 26th, 27:16); Doug Gibson (Sr., 29th, 27:22);
Eddie Strickler (Sr., 30th, 27:26); Mike Zetterberg (So., 53rd, 28:33);
Ryan Phillips (Sr., 62nd, 28:53); Steve Miller (Jr., 79th, 30:28);
Michael Gavereski (Sr., 81st, 30:41). Women (6) - Mary Moriarty (So.,
7th, 23:11); Karin Rohde (Jr., 12th, 23:31); Suzie Strickler (So.,
22nd, 23:57); Kim Beaman (So., 23rd, 23:58); Megan Wrightman (Jr., 30th,
24:29); Kaitlin Rohde (Jr., 41st, 24:50).
SEATTLE UNIVERSITY Redhawks
Head Coach: Trisha Steidl, UW `99 (1st year)
Assistant: Eric Schueffner, Jessica Scalzo, Matt Franck
2005 Conference Finish: Men - 7th, 161. Women - 4th, 123.
2005 National Finish: Men - 10th, 279 (West Regional). Women - 8th, 270 (West Regional).
Returning Conference Finishers: Men (3) - Andrew Lybarger (Sr., 31st,
27:30); Nathan Heitzinger (Sr., 37th, 27:43); Nick Dols (Sr., 54th,
28:34). Women (3) - Katie Hansen (So., 21st, 23:53); Rhiannon Cadelinia
(So., 62nd, 25:52); Natalie Martinez (So., 80th, 26:11).
WESTERN OREGON Wolves
Head Coach: Mike Johnson, Eastern Washington `72 (3rd year)
Assistants: Jerret Mantalas, Jake Stewart
2005 Conference Finish: Men - 6th, 151. Women - 9th, 211.
2005 National Finish: Men - 11th, 288 (West Regionals). Women - None.
Returning Conference Finishers: Men (4) - Nick Crawford (Sr., 12th,
26:45); Nik Karr (So., 36th, 27:42); Troy Banker (Jr., 55th, 28:41);
Adam Bernot (So., 73rd, 29:33). Women (4) - Rachel Peters (So., 27th,
24:17); Sarah Howell (So., 52nd, 25:25); Kim Parry (So., 64th, 26:06);
Corina Pusch (So., 83rd, 27:53).
WESTERN WASHINGTON Vikings
Head Coach: Kelven \"Pee Wee\" Halsell, Wayland Baptist \'81 (20th year).
Assistants: Bill Roe, Jim Brewer, T. J. Garlatz
2005 Conference Finish: Men - 2nd, 88. Women - 6th, 148.
2005 National Finish: Men - 4th, 124 (West Regional). Women - 9th, 278 (West Regional).
Returning Conference Finishers: Men (8) - Logan Senrud (Sr., 6th,
26:30); Anthony Tomsich (So., 19th, 27:02); Sam Bedell (So., 20th,
27:02); Keith Lemay (Jr., 27:05); Chad Portwood (Sr., 22nd, 27:06);
Josh Beck (Sr., 33rd, 27:35); Keever Henry (Jr., 39th, 27:48); Sam
Brancheau (Jr., 44th, 28:01). Women (5) - Jolene Boogard (So., 20th,
23:51); Keely Kaligis (Jr., 55th, 25:35); Catherine McDonald (So., 63rd,
26:03); Katie Wittrock (Jr., 66th, 26:11); Jessica Howell (Jr., 71st,
26:31). Note: Molly DePasqual, who placed 29th in 2004 meet, also
returns after redshirting last year.