BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University cross country teams are set to open the 2018 season this Saturday at the CWU Invitational at Rotary Park in Ellensburg.
 
The racing is set to start with the men's 7K at 4:30 pm and follow with the women's 5K at 5:15 pm. Results from the meet will be posted on WWUVikings.com/XC immediately following the conclusion of the event.
 
"We are excited to get out on the course and put our hard training to work at this season-opening event," said WWU track & field and cross country head coach Pee Wee Halsell. "We had a great preseason team retreat at Camp Casey and really looking forward to beginning the 2018 season."
 
Both the men's and women's team have been predicted to finish 3^rd in their respective Great Northwest Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches Polls, and each are listed 6^th in the preseason U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) West Regional rankings and just outside the national top 25 with both receiving votes.
 
The men's team returns three of five scoring runners and five of the top seven finishers from last year's GNAC Championships, and adds 2016 All-GNAC performer Isaac Derline (Kent, WA/Kentridge) as a redshirt senior after sitting out last season. Senior Jadon Olson (Mill Creek, WA/Jackson) was an All-GNAC performer placing 6^th at the GNAC Championships and four additional runners that placed in the top 30 at the GNAC Championships return for the 2018 season.
 
Sophomore Eric Hamel (20^th, Enumclaw, WA), senior Dylan Hayes (21^st, Seattle, WA/Garfield), junior James Jasperson (26^th, Lacey, WA/North Thurston/Everett CC) and junior Liam Cossette (27^th, Spokane, WA/Ferris) all finished in the top 30 at the GNAC Championships adding tremendous depth to the men's squad.
 
"We have a lot of talent returning and feature pretty good depth on the men's side, so I am looking forward to see how the team progresses throughout the season," added Halsell, in his 32^nd year leading the program. "Isaac (Derline) is back after redshirting last season and Jadon (Olson) took a nice step forward as an All-GNAC performer last season."
 
The Viking women return five runners who placed among the top 30 at the GNAC Championships in 2017. WWU was 3rd at the conference meet last season and placed 8th at the NCAA II West Regional. The group is led by junior Tracy Melville (Lamont, WA/Lind-Ritzville/Sprague), who placed 13^th at last year's conference championships. Sophomore Jane Barr (Seattle, WA/Roosevelt), junior Peyton Shinnick (Maple Valley, WA/Tahoma), junior Sophia Galvez (Los Alamos, NM) and senior Aundrea Koger (Osage City, KS) help provide returning experience for the Vikings. Barr was 23rd (22:58.47) at the GNAC Championships last year with Shinnick finishing 25th (23:01.39), Galvez 28th (23:08.84) and Koger 30th (23:18.10).
 
"We are young and don't have as much depth on the women's team, but I think the squad will grow throughout the season," said Halsell. "We do return several runners that performed well at the GNAC Championships last season. They are a great group that is working hard and ready for the 2018 season."
 
After opening the season at the CWU Invitational, the Vikings have four meets on the schedule prior to the GNAC Championships. WWU will be at the Saint Martin's Open (Sept. 22), the Emerald City Open (Oct. 6), Division II Conference Crossover (Oct. 6) and hosts the 45th Annual WWU Classic in Bellingham on Oct. 20 at Sudden Valley Golf Course.
 
"We are moving our event to Sudden Valley Golf Course this year, which is a shift from hosting at Lake Padden for some time, but I think the student-athletes will enjoy the course and it will be much more fan-friendly from a spectator standpoint," said Halsell "It's always a great time to host this cross country event in Bellingham and we look forward to another great WWU Classic."
 
Following three consecutive years of WWU hosting the GNAC Championships at Lake Padden Park in Bellingham, the conference meet moves to Ash Creek Preserve in Monmouth, Ore. for 2018 with Western Oregon University serving as host. The NCAA II West Regional will be held Nov. 17 at Amend Park in Billings, Mont. with MSU Billings hosting the regional.
 
"We are ready to get going and put our best foot forward to return to the NCAA Championships," added Halsell. "The team reported in great shape and has put in a lot of hard work during the offseason…now it is ready to get out on the course, build up throughout the season and be in prime form as we hit the GNAC and NCAA West Regional Championships."
 
Here is a look at the 2018 WWU Cross Country schedule. Times and more detail on each event can be found online at WWUVikings.com/XC:
 

DATE	MEET	PLACE
Sept. 15 (Sat.)	Central Washington Invitational	Ellensburg, WA (Rotary Park)
Sept. 22 (Sat.)	Saint Martin's Open	Lacey, WA (SMU Campus)
Oct. 6 (Sat.)	Division II Conference Crossover	Romeoville, IL (Lewis Cross Country Course)
Oct. 6 (Sat.)	Emerald City Open	Seattle, WA (Lower Woodland Park)
Oct. 20 (Sat.)	45th Annual WWU Classic	Bellingham, WA (Sudden Valley Golf Course)
Nov. 3 (Sat.)	GNAC Championships	Monmouth, OR (Ash Creek Preserve)
Nov. 17 (Sat.)	NCAA Division II West Regional	Billings, MT (Amend Park)
Dec. 1 (Sat.)	NCAA DII Championships	Pittsburgh, PA (Cooper's Lake Campground)

FOLLOW THE VIKS…Fans can follow WWU Cross Country online at WWUVikings.com/XC, and via social media on Twitter (@WWUTFXC), Instagram (@WWUTFXC) and Facebook (@WWUTFXC).