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BELLINGHAM, WASH. - The Western Washington men's cross country team placed 3rd, led by a pair of All-GNAC performances from junior Isaac Derline and senior Matthew Lutz, while the Viking women finished 4^th at the 2016 GNAC Championships Saturday morning, hosted at East Lake Padden Park.

The Western Washington men totaled 86 points in the 8K race, finishing behind Alaska Anchorage (31 points) and Simon Fraser (60 points). The Seawolves claimed their seventh consecutive GNAC team title, led by individual champion Edwin Kangogo and runner-up Michel Ramirez. Alaska Anchorage placed all seven scoring runners among the top 17 finishers.

Derline (Kent, WA/Kentridge) posted a 3^rd-place time of 25:07.80 behind Kangogo (24:54.80) and Ramirez (24:56.50). He produced the highest individual Western Washington finish since Dak Riek placed 3^rd in 2012.

Lutz (Bremerton, WA) was 8^th in a time of 25:36.20 to join Derline among the top-10 finishers for All-GNAC accolades. Senior Cody McCranie (Auburn, WA) placed 22^nd in 26:11.80 while freshman Peter Butler (Port Angeles, WA) followed in 24^th with a time of 26:17.80 to give Western Washington four finishers among the top 25.

Sophomore Dylan Hayes (Seattle, WA?Garfield) crossed the line 33^rd with a time of 26:27.00 and junior Andrew Wise (Denver, CO/East) placed 35^th (26:29.90). Sophomore Justin Irvine (Yakima, WA/East Valley) rounded out the scoring for the men in 38^th place with a time of 26:35.50.

"We had some good things happen with some guys," said head coach Pee Wee Halsell. "...We were a little bit tired (coming into and during the race) from talking to some of the kids...but I'm excited about where we are pointing in two weeks (at the NCAA Division II West Regional)."

Derline, who won the WWU Classic two weekends ago, has placed 6^th or better in each of his races this year.

"Isaac is running great," added Halsell. "...I'm very excited about how Isaac is running and it's only going to get better."

The Western Washington women finished with 114 points in the 6K race, behind Alaska Anchorage (45 points), Simon Fraser (56 points) and Seattle Pacific (92 points). The Seawolves, led by individual champion Caroline Kurgat (21:17.10), defended their 2015 title on Saturday and claimed their sixth title in a seven-year span. Alaska Anchorage placed all seven of its scoring runners among the top 19 finishers.

The Vikings were led by junior Lillianna Stelling (Langley, WA/South Whidbey), who placed 12^th in a time of 22:29.30. Senior Brittany Grant (Port Townsend, WA) followed in 23^rd place with a time of 22:59.10.

" Lilly Stelling had a great race," Halsell said. "It was just amazing for her to step up - she was running with Brittany (Grant) the whole time and then Brittany dropped and she just kept going, which is exactly what you need to do when you see a teammate drop. You just need to step into the role and she did a great job of that...a lot of ladies did that (today)."

Junior Sara Taferre (Vancouver, WA/Skyview) finished 27^th in 23:06.50, followed by junior Maddy Hutchison (Snoqualmie, WA/Mount Si) in 29^th place (23:09.50). Freshman Peyton Shinnick (Maple Valley, WA/Mount Si) was 31^st (23:17.40), freshman Sophia Galvez (Los Alamos, NM) was 34^th (23:21.70) and junior Shawna Troupe (Kelso, WA) was 46^th (23:49.40) to complete the scoring for Western Washington.

Western Washington next competes at the NCAA Division II West Regional, hosted on Nov. 5 in Billings, Mont. The top 5 men's teams and top 6 women's teams at the meet will advance to the NCAA Division II National Championships.

"It's just sharpening and cutting miles and getting ready to peak," said Halsell of the mentality heading into the West Regional. "...Getting ready because we need to be in the top 6 for the women and top 5 for the men. So that is where our goal is - to move on to nationals so we can peak there."

Full Western Washington women's results from the GNAC Championships (4^th of 11):

**Denotes top 5 scoring racer

• Lillianna Stelling (Jr., Langley, WA/South Whidbey) - 12^th place (22:29.30)**
• Brittany Grant (Sr., Port Townsend, WA) - 23^rd place (22:59.10)**
• Sara Taferre (Jr., Vancouver, WA/Skyview) - 27^th place (23:06.50)**
• Maddy Hutchison (Jr., Snoqualmie, WA/Mount Si) - 29^th place (23:09.50)**
• Peyton Shinnick (Fr., Maple Valley, WA/Tahoma) - 31^st place (23:17.40)**
• Sophia Galvez (Fr., Los Alamos NM) - 34^th place (23:21.70)
• Shawna Troupe (Jr., Kelso, WA) - 46^th place (23:49.40)
• Waverly Shreffler (Fr., Sequim, WA) - 48^th place (23:53.40)
• Mikhaela Woodward (So., Sandpoint, ID) - 58^th place (24:34.80)
• Talia Dreicer (Fr., Los Alamos, NM) - 65^th place (24:57.20)

Full Western Washington men's results from the GNAC Championships (3^rd of 11):

**Denotes top 5 scoring racer

• Isaac Derline (Jr., Kent, WA/Kentridge) - 3^rd place (25:07.80)**
• Matthew Lutz (Sr., Bremerton, WA) - 8^th place (25:36.20)**
• Cody McCranie (Sr., Auburn, WA) - 22^nd place (26:11.80)**
• Peter Butler (Fr., Port Angeles, WA) - 24^th place (26:17.80)**
• Dylan Hayes (So., Seattle, WA/Garfield) - 33^rd place (26:27.00)**
• Andrew Wise (Jr., Denver, CO/East) - 35^th place (26:29.90)
• Justin Irvine (So., Yakima, WA/East Valley) - 38^th place (26:35.50)
• Logan Giese (Jr., Spokane, WA/Central Valley) - 54^th place (26:57.20)
• Nick Mounier (So., Kelso, WA) - 74^th place (27:49.90)
• Cameron Freshwaters (Jr., Tacoma, WA/Stadium) - 75^th place (27:50.00)

Cross Country Links:

• GNAC Championships Central
• WWU Cross Country
• 2016 WWU Meet-by-Meet Results
• NCAA Cross Country
• USTFCCCA Rankings