SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Western Washington University men's and women's cross country teams wrapped up a successful 2019 season on Saturday racing at the NCAA Division II Championships on the Arcade Creek Cross Country Course at Haggin Oaks Golf Club.

 

The Western women's squad placed 17^th out of 34 teams, one better than the pre-nationals ranking of No. 18 in the nation. The men placed 22^nd, right at their pre-nationals ranking. WWU was one of 19 NCAA Division II schools to have both programs compete in the 2019 Cross Country Championships. 

 

2019 was a season that saw both programs sweep the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships and each make the trip to nationals for the eighth time in program history.

 

The women's team placed 17th with a score of 507 points, but was hampered in the team race when junior Jane Barr dropped out of the competition with under a kilometer to go. Sophomore Tovah Swartz-Ireland led the Vikings as she placed 86th in a time of 21:31.4. Adams State swept the top three places to claim the program's 18th Division II title with a score of 23 points, while GNAC programs Alaska Anchorage (8^th), Seattle Pacific (12^th) and Northwest Nazarene (16^th) also earned top 20 finishes.

 

The Western men's squad was the only representative out of the GNAC, placing 22^nd with a team score of 511 points. An improvement from the 26^th-place finish last season, WWU was led by a 69^th-place finish by junior Ed Kiolbasa and 87^th by freshman Deyago Peraza. Colorado Mines won the team title with a score of 57 points, placing three runners in the top-40.

 

"It was a very good season for both squads, with the sweep of the GNAC Championships and both teams qualifying for nationals," said 33^rd-year head coach Pee Wee Halsell. "I think we were both pleased and a little disappointed in our performance today, matching our national rankings, but leaving a little left on the table on each side. I know this group will work hard to get back here nationals and do even better. I am very proud of them."

 

Here is a look at the individual performances by the WWU men at the NCAA II National Championships with the Vikings placing 22^nd in the 34-team field. Western entered nationals ranked No. 22 in the nation, so their performance on Saturday matched their national ranking. Junior Ed Kiolbasa was WWU's highest placing runner finishing in 69^th place completing the 10K in 31:12.7. Freshman Deyago Peraza also earned a top-100 finish in 87^th place in 31:27.1.

 

 

Here is a look at the individual performances by the WWU women at the NCAA II National Championships with the Vikings placing 17^th in the 34-team field, one better than the pre-nationals ranking of No. 18. Sophomore Tovah Swartz-Ireland was the highest finisher for the Vikings in 86^thplace in the 261-runner field, clocking a PR for a 6K in 21:34.3. Her previous best was 21:38.4 set at the NCAA II West Regional two weeks ago. WWU's top runner Jane Barr, an 8^th-place finisher at the GNAC Championships, did not finish for the second consecutive race falling 200m short of the finish line.

 

 

This marks the eighth time in program history that both the men's and women's programs raced in the same season at the NCAA II national championship. The WWU women made their 9^th trip to nationals and have finished in the top 20 each time. This was the 11^th selection for the men's team and second consecutive season after finishing 26^th last year at nationals. Here is a look at WWU's prior finishes at the NCAA West Regional and NCAA II National Championships since joining the NCAA in 1998:

 

 

Here is a look at WWU's starting lineup of seven runners for the 2019 NCAA Division II Championships.

 

 

The championships were raced on the Arcade Creek Golf Course at the Haggin Oaks Golf Complex. Sacramento State University and the Sacramento Sports Commission served as hosts for the event.

 

Here is a look at WWU's final team finishes from the 2019 cross country season:

 

 

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