Sept. 24, 2011
Complete Results
SPOKANE, Wash. - Western Washington University made a huge statement Saturday as its women placed third and men fourth at the Runners Soul Erik Anderson Cross Country Invitational held at the Plantes Ferry Complex.
The meet, which had nearly 500 collegiate runners participating, served as the regional preview. Later this fall, the course will be the site of both the West Regional meet and NCAA Division II National Championships.
"I was very happy with both of their performances," said WWU coach Pee Wee Halsell (25th year), whose men entered the competition ranked 19th and women 23rd in the latest United State Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Top 25 polls. "This shows that we have good solid teams, who are both working hard, and I know that they will keep improving."
The Viking men finished with 177 points, just two behind third-place Lewis-Clark State. Colorado Mines dominated the 25-team field with a winning score of 27 and Gonzaga was second with 94.
The Western women posted a score of 133, just 19 behind runner-up Gonzaga among 26 schools. Washington State, which placed all five of its scorers among the top seven, won with 21 points.
Tyler Cannon (Jr., Kennewick/Kamiakin), a transfer from Brigham Young, placed 20th among 251 runners to lead the Viking men. He was clocked in 25:20 over the 8-kilometer course. Nick Abraham (Sr., Sammamish/Skyline) was 39th in 25:46 and Dylan Peterson (So., Seattle/Garfield) 41st in 25:49. Tanner Boyd (Jr., Camas) placed 50th in 25:54 and Dak Riek (So., Everett/Mariner), a transfer Spokane CC, was 53rd in 25:57.
Leading the WWU women for the first time in her career was Rachael Johnson (Sr., Yakima/West Valley), who placed 20th in 22:28 over the 6-kilometer course. There were 229 runners in all.
Viking All-American Lauren Breihof (Sr., Vancouver/Mountain View), competing for the first time this season, finished 23rd in 22:35, and freshman Katelyn Steen (Sammamish/Eastlake) had another solid performance, placing 26th in 22:41. Steen had been WWU's top runner in each of the first two meets.
Sierra Brisky (Sr., Acme/Mount Baker) finished 33rd (22:57) in her season debut and Phoebe Hartnett (Jr., San Diego, CA/Patrick Henry) was 41st (23:11).
Halsell was especially pleased that WWU had two to three runners each from both squads near their fifth-place scorer.
WWU, which graduated four All-Americans from 2010 teams that both had top 10 national finishes for the third straight year, take a week off before playing host to the 38th Annual Viking Invitational on Oct. 8 at East Lake Padden Park.
