BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The No. 27 nationally-ranked Western Washington University women's cross country team continued its solid start to the 2023 season placing 2nd at the Bill Roe Classic held Saturday at Lake Padden Park.
 
The Vikings recorded a team score of 72 with the top seven finishers placing inside the top 25 in the 102-runner field.
 
Sophomore Ashley Reeck paced the Vikings completing the 6K course in a personal-best time of 22:02.7, backing up her winning performance at the UPS Invitational in the season opener. Junior Mia Crocker (22:24.7) and sophomore Ila Davis (22:27.1) crossed the finish line 14th and 15th to help lift the Vikings to the 2nd-place finish.
 
A tight pack of runners displayed the team depth with senior Marian Ledesma placing 19th (22:40.9), freshman Ella Edens 22nd (22:46.6), junior Meaera Nystrom 23rd (22:49.1) and sophomore Allana Parker 25th (22:58.3).
 
"I was pleased with the women's team performance against a really good field of competitors," said WWU Assistant Coach and Cross Country lead T.J. Garlatz. "This race will set us up well for the big meets ahead. Ashley (Reeck) ran a very composed race with a top-10 finish and we had a nice tight pack inside the top 25. I am excited to see what this team will do the rest of the season."
 
The University of Victoria took home top team honors with a score of 54 powered by three runners finishing in the top 10. Constance Nankivel of Trinity Western University recorded a sizeable victory completing the course in 21:16.5, well ahead of runner-up Elise Coates of UVic (21:38.9).
 
Women's Team Results:

1. University of Victoria (54)
2. Western Washington (72)
3. Saint Martin's (94)
4. Simon Fraser (112)
5. Alaska Fairbanks (117)
6. Club Northwest (152)
7. Alaska Anchorage (173)
8. Seattle Pacific (188)
9. Trinity Western (219)
10. Central Washington (275)
11. Lake Sammamish Running Club (330)
12. Hawai'i Hilo (347) 

WWU Women's Collegiate Results/Finish (6K):

• Ashley Reeck (8th, 22:02.7)
• Mia Crocker (14th, 22:24.7)
• Ila Davis (15th, 22:27.1)
• Marian Ledesma (19th, 22:40.9)
• Ella Edens (22nd, 22:46.6)
• Meaera Nystrom (23rd, 22:49.1)
• Alanna Parker (25th, 22:58.3)
• Sophie Wright (30th, 23:08.0)
• Emma Smith (31st, 23:10.4)
• Laura Halsell (37th, 23:22.1)
• Kendall Carter (39th, 23:24.6)
• Kayla Ramsey (46th, 23:40.6)
• Josephine Stevenson (47th, 23:41.7)
• Emmy Kroontje (48th, 23:45.3)
• Elie Bassett (56th, 24:12.3)
• Evelyn Collins-Winn (68th, 25:03.7)
• Delphine Maurer (82nd, 26:08.1)

Following the Bill Roe Classic, the Vikings are scheduled to race in a pair of meets on Saturday, October 7. Western will send seven members on each the men's and women's team to the Lewis Crossover in Romeoville, Illinois, with the remainder competing at the Emerald City Classic at Lower Woodland Park. The complete 2023 WWU Cross Country schedule can be viewed online at wwuvikings.com/23_XC.
  The Vikings hosted the 49th Annual WWU Classic, renamed the WWU Bill Roe Classic in 2021, on Saturday, September 23, 2023 at Lake Padden Park in Bellingham. The meet is named in honor of Bill Roe, a fixture in the Western Washington University track & field and cross country program for 35 years, from 1985-2020, as well as being nationally and internationally known for his involvement in the administration of those sports. Roe passed away unexpectedly in February 2020. He was a long-time USA Track & Field official and leader. He served as President of the USATF for two terms from 2000 to 2008. The founder in 1972 of Seattle's Club Northwest and in 1973 of the Pacific Northwest Association of USATF, Roe's resume includes work in nearly all capacities of the sport: as a coach, meet director, clinician, official, administrator, and executive. He also was founder of Northwest Runner magazine.