By: Jamal Smith 
Sports Editor

Western played host to the 2015 NCAA Cross-Country Regionals on Saturday Nov. 7, 2015 at Ash Creek Preserve in Monmouth, Oregon.

The men’s team finished 12th out of 23 teams. Sophomore David Ribich was the first to cross the finish-line for the Wolves, and placed 11th individually, earning him All-West honors and also qualifying him for the NCAA individual championships.

“As a team we came a long way from last year. We wanted everyone on the team to run the best race they could to give back to the seniors who deserved a good last race and to go out on a high note,” said Ribich.

“[The team] fell short on making nationals, but I qualified as an individual which will take place next Saturday on the 21st in Joplin, Missouri,” Ribich said.

Ribich became the first WOU cross-country athlete to qualify for the NCAA individual Championships since Connor Kasler succeeded back in 2011.

Ribich finished the 10K race with a blazing time of 30:11.95.

“During the race I felt pretty good. I was expecting the Anchorage, Alaska competitors and the Chico competitors and Oliver Jorgensen from Simon Frasier to go straight to the front, and that’s where I wanted to be,” said Ribich.

Ribich continued, “The race was really packed up and I couldn’t get my full stride because of how close everyone was to each other.”

“At about 6K, Chico and Alaska started picking up the pace so at that point I had to give it my all because if I dropped off from the lead group there would have been no way to catch back up,” added Ribich.

“So I hung on till about 8500 meters and then I started struggling. But with the support of the fans, community and my family; when I heard the cheering, it gave me a second wind,” Ribich concluded.

The Wolves had three other male athletes place in the top 100. Senior Zach Hollaway placed 43rd with a time of 31:23. Junior David Cornish finished in 67th place and freshman Tyler Jones finished 91st.

The women’s team placed 15th out of 28 total teams.

Junior Nichole Maurmann had the Wolves’ best time of the day, finishing the 6,000-meter race in 37th place with a time of 22:07. Senior Stephanie Stuckey finished the race three seconds later to place 40th.

“We were all really excited that it was a home meet for regionals. We had so much support from the track team and the other sports teams,” said Stuckey.

Stuckey added, “As a team we went out and did our best, but we didn’t finish exactly where we wanted to be. But at the end of the day, we ran the best race we could. I had a lot of fun and was able to run with Nichole and it was really cool that we got to work together.”

The 2015 NCAA Championships is on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015 at 11 a.m. in Joplin, Missouri. Ribich looks to build on his successful season and accomplish is macro and micro goals.

“My focus goal is to place in the top 40 to gain an All-American medal,” said Ribich, “My macro goal is to just go out there and run the best race I possibly can and represent the GNAC and Western Oregon.”