BILLINGS, Mont. – The Western Washington University cross country program recorded its highest combined finish at the NCAA II West Regional Championships with both teams earning runner-up honors Saturday at Amend Park.

 

The Vikings men equaled its highest finish at a regional meet finishing 2nd with 54 points and the defending West Region champion women's team also placed 2nd with a team score of 115. Both teams earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Division II National Championships that will be held November 23 in Sacramento, California. This marks the 10th time since joining the NCAA level in 1998 that both programs advance to nationals, and the fourth time in the last six seasons.

 

WWU had seven total All-West Region performances for finishing in the top 25, with the men featuring all five scoring runners as all-region award winners and the women had a pair of award winners. Senior Ryan Clough led the way placing 2nd in the men's 10K and junior Ashley Reeck placed 12th in the women's 6K to lead the Vikings to the runner-up finish.

 

The Viking men tied their highest finish at a West Regional meet placing 2nd with 54 points, narrowly trailing winner Chico State (40 points). WWU matched runner-up finishes in 2022, 2009 and 2007 for their fourth 2nd-place trophy at the West Regional competition.

 

WWU was fueled by its five scoring runners all finishing in the top 20 to earn All-West Region honors, led by a runner-up finish from senior Ryan Clough, who covered the 10K course in PR time of 30:30.12. Clough became the fourth Viking to place in the top five at a regional meet matching runner-up finishes by Jordan Welling in 2009 and 2010. Paul Kezes won the regional title in 2002 in Fresno, California.

 

Coming off a GNAC individual title, senior Jeret Gillingham placed 7th in 30:42.30 to earn his fourth all-region award also placing 25th in 2023, 11th in 2022 and 19th in 2021. 

 

Senior Kevin McDermott earned a top-10 finish placing 10th in personal-best time of 30:54.85 and junior George Karamitsos (17th, 31:07.62) and sophomore Jared Alderfer (18th, 31:07.94) 

 

WWU placed ahead of 3rd-place Biola (137), 4th-place Cal Poly Pomona (147) and 5th place Azusa Pacific (149). The top three teams earned automatic bids to the NCAA National Championships.

 

This marks the 14th trip to nationals in program history for the Viking men, third consecutive and fifth in the last six seasons.

 

 

Here is a look at the individual performances by the WWU men at the West Regional Championships, with WWU's scoring five runners all earning All-Region honors for placing in the top 25 in the 156-competitor field:

 

 

Led by All-West Region performances from junior Ashley Reeck and senior Ila Davis, the Vikings punched its ticket to nationals with a runner-up finish at the West Regional Championships. 

 

Running as the defending regional champions, the Vikings gave another sterling team performance with the five scoring runners finishing in the top 31 for a team score of 115. WWU narrowly trailed Chico State which finished with a winning team score of 104.

 

Reeck, an All-American a season ago, placed 12th overall covering the 6K course in 21:24.24 to lead the Vikings. Davis placed 16th overall in 21:32.91 to also earn All-West Region honors for the second consecutive season.

 

The Vikings strength came running as a pack with senior Emma Smith (27th, 21:51.51), sophomore Ella Edens (29th, 21:54.12) and redshirt freshman Danielle McLain (31st, 21:59.96) bunched up to secure the second-place team finish.

 

WWU placed ahead of 3rd-place Biola (141), 4th-place Alaska Fairbanks (154) and 5th place Stanislaus State (164). The top three teams earned automatic bids to the NCAA National Championships.

 

This marks the 11th trip to nationals in program history for the Viking women and fourth in last six seasons. 

 

 

Here is a look at the individual performances by the WWU women at the NCAA West Regional Championships, with junior Ashley Reeck and senior Ila Davis earning All-West Region honor for placing in the top 25 in the 192-competitor field:

 

 

The Vikings season continues with the next race at the NCAA Division II National Championships on November 23 at Haggin Oaks Golf Complex and the Arcade Creek Cross Country Course in Sacramento. Both the WWU men and women earn automatic bids to the 34-team field on each side with the official announcement coming Monday from the NCAA. The complete 2024 WWU Cross Country schedule can be viewed online with links for season results and live coverage at wwuvikings.com/24_XC.

 

The Vikings cemented a pair of automatic berths to the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships that will be held November 23 in Sacramento, California. This marks the second consecutive season and 10th time overall since joining the NCAA in 1998 that both the WWU men's and women's cross country teams have qualified for nationals. The WWU women will be making its 11th trip to NCAA nationals and the Viking men will be racing at nationals for the 14th time in program history.

 

Here is a look at how the Vikings men's and women's squads have finished at the NCAA II West Regional Championships since joining the NCAA in 1998. The WWU women's regional championship in 2023 was the first by a Viking cross country team with the men's team placing second in 2007, 2009 and 2022

 

 

Here are some of the details about the 2024 NCAA II West Regional Championships that were held Saturday in Billings, Montana:

 

·         What: 2024 NCAA II West Regional Cross Country Championships

·         When: Saturday, November 9, 2024

·         Where: Amend Park in Billings, Montana

·         Time: Men's 10K (10 am MT/9 am PT), Women's 6K (11:15 am MT/10:15 am PT)

·         Live Results

·         Meet Info

·         Course Maps: Men's 10K | Women's 6K

·         Regional Championships History

 

Both the WWU men's and women's cross country programs have been a mainstay in the regional and national rankings in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) polls all season. The Viking men head into the regional meet ranked in the top 10 (#9) and the women are in the top 15 (#14):

 

• WWU Men: No. 2 in West Region, No. 9 in NCAA II
• WWU Women: No. 2 in West Region, No. 14 in NCAA II

 

Here is a look at the national week-by-week national rankings for the Vikings in 2024:

 

 

The 2024 WWU cross country schedule features four regular-season meets, followed by the GNAC Championships, NCAA II West Regional and the NCAA II Championships. The complete season schedule with links to recaps, results and live timing is available at WWUVikings.com/XC. 

 

 

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