UNIVERSITY PLACE, Wash. – The Western Washington University cross country program got its first look at the course that will host the 2022 NCAA Division II National Championships in December competing in the John Payne/Curtis Invitational Saturday at Chambers Creek Regional Park.
 
The Vikings held out a large contingent of runners that are expected to compete next Saturday at the Lewis Crossover in Romeoville, Illinois. WWU showed its team depth with the men placing first and women second in the event.
 
The men's squad – ranked No. 24 nationally – recorded a team score of 19 with the top five scoring runners all finishing in the top seven in the 43-runner field. Sophomore Sean Sands led the Vikings placing 2nd on the 8,000m course finishing in 25:54.5.
 
Sophomore Drew Weber (3rd, 26:14.1), sophomore Will Henry (4th, 26:26.7), freshman Matthew Salazar (7th, 26:48.1) and freshman Jonah Bloom (8th, 27:05.6) all finished in the top 10. Unattached runner Leo Rutledge was the collegiate men's winner in a time of 25:47.4. Saint Martin's finished second with a team score of 36.
 

WWU Men's Results (1st Place – 19)
2.	Sean Sands	25:54.5
3.	Drew Weber	26:14.1
4.	Will Henry	26:26.7
7.	Matthew Salazar	26:48.1
8.	Jonah Bloom	27:05.6
13.	Cory Nounnan	27:34.6
14.	Abbas Theophilus	27:34.6
15.	Ethan Bursch	27:43.6
29.	Jalen Cano	30:04.6

 
The women's team – ranked No. 19 nationally – finished 2nd behind Saint Martin's University with a team score of 30. The Vikings were led by a fourth-place finish by freshman Sidra Miller, who covered the 5-kilometer course in 19:42.6. WWU ran as a pack with the five scoring runners finishing 4-5-6-7-8 and separated by just a 30-second gap.
 
Right behind Miller was freshman Laura Halsell (5th, 19:56.45), freshman Alexis Parker (6th, 20:07.66), sophomore Emma Smith (7th, 20:12.07) and freshman Emmy Kroontje (8th, 20:12.48).
 
Saint Martin's recorded a team score of 25, led by winning runner Alauna Carstens in a time of 18:43.3.
 

WWU Women's Results (2nd Place – 30)
4.	Sidra Miller	19:42.6
5.	Laura Halsell	19:56.4
6.	Alexis Parker	20:07.6
7.	Emma Smith	20:12.0
8.	Emmy Kroontje	20:12.4
12.	Elie Bassett	20:43.1
15.	Delphine Maurer	20:59.7
19.	Jasmine Davis	21:18.4

  The Vikings are back in action next Saturday traveling to the Lewis Crossover in Romeoville, Illinois. The complete 2022 WWU Cross Country schedule can be viewed online at wwuvikings.com/22_XC.
  Fans can follow WWU Cross Country online at WWUVikings.com/XC, and via social media on Twitter (@WWUTFXC), Instagram (@WWUTFXC) and Facebook (@WWUTFXC).

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