LAKEWOOD, Wash. – The Western Washington University cross country team opened the 2023 season in dominating fashion sweeping the top spots in the team competition Saturday at the UPS Invitational at Fort Steilacoom Park.
 
The Viking women made a statement with the light blue WWU uniform crossing the finish line for the top 14 spots, leading to a perfect team score of 15. Sophomore Ashley Reeck led the way with a first-place finish completing the 5K in 17:41.04, followed by juniors Sophie Wright (18:07.58), Mia Crocker (18:14.86), Emma Smith (18:26.56) and Meaera Nystrom (18:27.25).
 
The No. 10 nationally-ranked men's squad also put forth a dominating effort with the five scoring runners all in the top-10. Junior Portland State transfer Sam Lingwall paced the Western harriers placing second in a photo finish at the line with Central Washington's Johan Correa. Junior Ryan Clough placed 5th overall in 15:06, junior Jalen Javurek was 6th in 15:15, sophomore Jason Blinn surged to a 9th-place finish (15:28) and sophomore Will Henry rounded out the scoring runners in 10th place (15:36).
 
"We are really happy how today played out to open the season," said WWU Assistant Coach and Cross Country lead T.J. Garlatz. "We put in a big week of training at our team camp, and to come together as a team with such strong performances was great to see. We now will go back into another few weeks of strong training to build towards the Bill Roe Classic running in front of the home crowd in Bellingham."
 
WWU also had a number of runners perform well while racing unattached, and due to NCAA compliance rules, those results are not allowed to be published in this news release.

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Women's Team Results:

1. Western Washington (15) – Perfect Score
2. Seattle Pacific (59)
3. Central Washington (79)
4. Puget Sound (96)
5. Northwest (124)

 
WWU Women's Collegiate Results/Finish (5K):

• Ashley Reeck (1st, 17:41.04)
• Sophie Wright (2nd, 18:07.58)
• Mia Crocker (3rd, 18:14.86)
• Emma Smith (4th, 18:26.56)
• Meaera Nystrom (5th, 18:27.25)
• Alanna Parker (6th, 18:29.83)
• Ella Edens (7th, 18:33.09)
• Kendall Carter (8th, 18:39.69)
• Marian Ledesma (9th, 18:46.92)
• Kayla Ramsey (10th, 18:56.69)
• Roxanne Fredericksen (11th, 18:59.36)
• Laura Halsell (12th, 19:04.40)
• Elie Bassett (13th, 19:16.11)
• Josephine Stevenson (14th, 19:16.24)
• Evelyn Collins-Winn (16th, 19:23.17)
• Emmy Kroontje (18th, 19:35.78)

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Men's Team Results:

1. Western Washington (30)
2. Northwest (81)
3. Puget Sound (94)
4. Central Washington (102)
5. Seattle Pacific (109)
6. Pacific Lutheran (122)
7. Green River College (173)
8. Evergreen State College (206)

 
WWU Men's Collegiate Results/Finish (5K):

• Sam Lingwall (2nd, 15:00)
• Ryan Clough (5th, 15:06)
• Jalen Javurek (6th, 15:15)
• Jason Blinn (9th, 15:28)
• Will Henry (10th, 15:32)
• Jeret Gillingham (13th, 15:36)
• Drew Weber (84th, 15:43)
• Eric Anthony Souza-Ponce (37th, 16:22)
• Connor Palmen (40th, 16:24)
• Anders Norman (51st, 16:43)

  WWU takes next weekend off and is back in action hosting the Bill Roe Invitational on Saturday, September 23 at Lake Padden Park in Bellingham. The complete 2023 WWU Cross Country schedule can be viewed online at wwuvikings.com/23_XC.
  Fans can follow WWU Cross Country online at WWUVikings.com/XC, and via social media on Twitter (@WWUTFXC), Instagram (@WWUTFXC) and Facebook (@WWUTFXC).