BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Western Washington is looking to pick up right where it left off after a historic 2023 campaign, as both the Viking women's and men's cross country teams were picked as the favorites in the 2024 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches Poll.

 

WWU's men claimed all 10 first-place votes to run away as the unanimous favorites, while the women earned 9 of 10 first-place votes to claim 99 of a possible 100 points. The Vikings became the first school in GNAC history to win the six combined cross country, indoor track and field and outdoor track and field team titles during the 2023-24 academic year.

 

Both WWU programs will be in search of their third consecutive GNAC cross country titles after sweeping last year's team championship in Anchorage, Alaska. The Alaska Fairbanks women garnered the other first-place vote in the preseason poll and finished second to the Vikings with 81 points. The Simon Fraser men finished a distant second to WWU with 83 points in the preseason poll, which is compiled from a vote of the conference's 10 head cross country coaches.

 

WWU is scheduled to open the 2024 season September 14 at the Green River Gator Invitational at Fort Steilacoom Park in Lakewood. The Vikings will host the Bill Roe Invitational on Saturday, September 28 at Hovander Park in Ferndale.

 

The 2024 GNAC Cross County Championships are set for October 26 hosted by WWU at Sudden Valley Golf Course. Montana State Billings will then play host to the NCAA West Region Championships, which are set for November 9 in the Magic City. The NCAA II National Championships are scheduled for November 23 in Sacramento, California.

 

Here is a look at the 2024 GNAC Cross Country Preseason Polls:

 

 

The Viking women made history last year by winning the program's first-ever NCAA West Region Championship team title, and advancing to the NCAA Championships as a 7189team. Among the seven runners who competed at all three postseason meets last fall, WWU returns six to this year's roster. The group is headed by reigning All-American Ashley Reeck, who placed fourth at the GNAC Championships (21:16.9), fifth at the regional championships (20:54.6) and 30th at the NCAA Championships (20:35.5). Reeck's time at the national meet was a 6k PR. Ila Davis is WWU's other returning all-conference runner, after finishing seventh at the 2023 GNAC Championships (21:30.0) and earning USTFCCCA all-region accolades with an 11th-place finish at regionals (21:19.4). Like Reeck, Davis's time of 20:56.4 at the NCAA Championships, which was good for a 53rd-place finish, was a personal best.

 

Other key returners for WWU who competed in all three postseason meets are Meaera Nystrom(13th/14th/193rd), Sophie Wright (14th/24th/175th), Emma Smith (18th/26th/133rd) and Mia Crocker(19th/31st/109th). Ella Edens, who was the 2023 GNAC Freshman of the Year after finishing 15th at the conference meet, is also back for the stacked Vikings roster. Ben Stensland is in his second season as head coach of WWU's cross country and track programs, and is assisted by distance coaches T.J. Garlatz and Haley Stensland.

 

The Vikings put forth a dominant showing in 2023, cruising to the GNAC title, placing fourth at the NCAA West Region Championships and capping the year by placing 16th as a team at the NCAA Championships. WWU is the clear favorite entering the 2024 season, sweeping all 10 first-place votes from the conference's coaches.

 

Individually WWU is in great shape to repeat, as it returns all but one of its runners who competed at the conference, regional and national meets. Heading the pack is reigning GNAC champion Kevin McDermott, who gutted out a victory in a finish for the ages down the stretch in Anchorage last fall. Using a final push to kick past Central Washington's Johan Correa, McDermott crossed the line in 24:43.5 (8k) to claim the crown. He went on to an all-region finish (15th/31:03.9 – 10k) and capped his cross country season 90th at the national meet (31:02.5 – 10k).

 

The Vikings' top finisher at the national meet was Ryan Clough, who checked in 73rd with a time of 30:51.7 (10k). Clough also garnered all-region honors after finishing ninth in 30:56.5 (10k) and all-conference honors after finishing ninth in 25:21.2 (8k). Jeret Gillingham is the Vikings other returner who earned both all-conference (10th/25:21.6) and all-region (25th/31:19.2), before finishing 146th (31:39.9) among the field of 263 competitors at the national meet. Jalen Javurek (GNAC 12th/Regional 27th/National 153rd) and Jason Blinn (GNAC 19th/Regional 74th/National 253rd) are two more Vikings who competed in all three postseason meets last fall.Sam Lingwall returns after placing 16th at the GNAC Championships (25:53.3) and Will Henry earned a spot on the NCAA Championships squad finishing 158th (31:49.8) last November.

 

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