BY JENNIFER HALLEY CAMPUS LIFE EDITOR
The men’s and women’s Cross Country team competed in the 14th annual Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) championships where the women placed seventh and the men finished eighth, on Saturday, Nov. 1.
David Ribich finished first for the Wolves in 25:56, which awarded him 26th place overall. The next Wolf to score was Zach Holloway in 27th place, with a time of 26:01.
Josh Hanna clocked in at 26:43 in 47th place. David McLeod, Riley Anheluk, Parker Marson and Joe Soik finished the Wolves’ scoring.
“The conference meet, we fell a little short finishing 8th; don’t know how or why but we did,” said Ribich. “We are bouncing back and continuing to train hard. Now is the time of cold season and it’s more important than ever to stay healthy and practice the best we can.”
Alaska Anchorage won the team title on the men’s side as well as swept the top three finishing spots.
Stephanie Stuckey was the first Wolf to finish in the women’s 6k, with a time of 21:47, which gave her a 21st place finish. Rachel Crawford was close behind in 26th place, with a time of 21:55.
Bailey Beeson and Nicole Anderson finished in 45th and 46th place with times of 22:36 and 22:37. Kolby Childers, Debora De Leon and Rachel Shelley finished the Wolves’ scoring.
“I am not excited about how we placed at conference,” said Stuckey. “I thought we ran our hearts out; but the results did not show it. It doesn’t mean we sucked; it just means we have to and can do better. I think the extra time to train is incredibly beneficial and will give us enough time to lay out a solid foundation to bring us up to our best for regionals.”
On the women’s side, the team title, as well as second and third place, was separated by just two points, the closest race in GNAC history. Simon Frasier won the women’s title with 62 points.
The men’s and women’s team travel to Billings, Mont. for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) West Regional meet on Nov. 22.
