By:Grace Knapp
Staff Writer

Motivated by last year’s poor performance at the regional meet, the men’s and women’s cross-country (XC) team have been training harder than ever for the start of the 2015-2016 season and head coach Mark Johnson believes their rigorous preparation shows.

“There is some tough talent to compete with in our league, but we have the potential to run with them,” Johnson said.

So far this season, sophomore David Ribich has already distinguished himself as a top competitor in the GNAC. Ribich placed 10th out of 280 runners at the Sundodger Invitational in Seattle, WA, helping the men’s team secure eighth place out of twenty-six teams.

The women placed 16th overall at Sundodger, lead by transfer student Nichole Maurmann who posted a 6-kilometer time of 22 minutes 59.64 seconds earning her 59th, and senior Stephanie Stuckey who also competed in the 6km finished slightly behind Maurmann at 80th with a time of 23 minutes 15.16 seconds.

Western also hosted the Ash Creek XC Festival on Friday, Sept. 11, 2015. The annual event is a chance to preview the GNAC cross-country field. With respectable showings for both men and women, the Wolves coasted to fourth and eighth respectively.

The runners’ ambitions now turn to the Willamette Invitational at Bush’s Pasture Park in Salem, Ore., Saturday Oct. 10, 2015. – Grace Knapp (Staff Writer)