FERNDALE, Wash. – Western Washington University hosted the 50th edition of the WWU Classic with the 4th annual Bill Roe Classic Saturday at Homestead Hovander Park.

 

The Viking women, ranked No. 1 in the West Region and No. 11 in the nation, edged No. 2 West Region ranked Chico State in a thrilling battle in the 6K race to conclude the event. The WWU men placed 2nd behind Chico State in another battle of the top two teams in the region.

 

Western's winning performance in the women's 6K netted a team score of 56.0 to narrowly edge the Chico State Wildcats by just three points. The Vikings ran as a pack with seven runners finishing in the top 20, led by junior Ashley Reeck placing 10th with a time of 21:25.4. Reeck was followed closely by seniors Ila Davis (11th, 21:34.8) and Mia Crocker (12th, 21:36.4).

 

The Viking men finished 2nd behind Chico State with 45 points, with the Wildcats featuring their five scoring runners in the top seven of collegiate runners. Senior Kevin McDermott led WWU with a third-place finish overall completing the 8K course in 24:05.4.

 

Constance Nankivell of Trinity Western won the women's 6K with a time of 20:18.3, a year after winning the title while running for the University of Victoria last season. Tom Anderson of Club Northwest won the Bill Roe Classic for the third time (2021, 2022) completing the four-lap 8K course in 23:28.9. Dylan White of Chico State was the top collegiate finisher placing 2nd overall in 24:02.3, followed by McDermott. 

 

The women's race featured five teams ranked in the USTFCCCA West Region top 10, with WWU (#1), Chico State (#2), Alaska Fairbanks (#4), Seattle Pacific (#9) and Simon Fraser (#10) all listed. The Vikings (#11), Wildcats (#12) and Nanooks (#20) all entered the week in the national top 20. Chico State (#7) and WWU (#10) both entered the meet in the top 10 nationally in the men's poll.

 

The Vikings hosted the 50th Annual WWU Classic, renamed the WWU Bill Roe Classic in 2021, on Saturday at Hovander Park in Ferndale. 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.

Here is a look at the final team scoring from the Bill Roe WWU Classic held Saturday at Hovander Homestead Park in Ferndale. The WWU women won the team title with 58 points and the Viking men place 2nd behind Chico State.

 

 

Here is a look at the women's results from the 6K ace for the Viking women at the Bill Roe Classic. WWU recorded a team score of 53.0 to win the team title by three points over Chico State, marking the Vikings fourth time in their home event.

 

 

Here is a look at the men's results from the 8K for the Viking men at the Bill Roe Classic. WWU placed 2nd behind Chico State in a battle of the top two West Region ranked teams:

 

 

Saturday was Senior Day for five Vikings that will be graduating after the fall quarter. These five student-athletes have competed in cross country and track & field for the Vikings over the last few years and we are excited to celebrate their final home meet at a Viking:

 

• Meara Nystrom
• Sophie Wright 
• Jeret Gillingham
• Jalen Javurek
• George Karamitsos

 

Both the WWU men's and women's cross country programs hold regional and national rankings in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) polls:

 

• WWU Women: No. 1 in West Region, No. 11 in NCAA II
• WWU Men: No. 2 in West Region, No. 10 in NCAA II

 

Following the Bill Roe Classic, the Vikings are scheduled to race in a pair of meets on Saturday, October 12. 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 GNAC Championships will be held October 26 at Sudden Valley Golf Course in Bellingham (co-hosted by WWU) and the West Regional Championships are set for November 9 in Billings, Montana.

 

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. Start times for all meets will be posted online at WWUVikings.com/XC when they are finalized. 

 

 

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