By: Jeff Evans, Assistant AD for Athletic Communications
ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – The Western Washington University cross country program made a strong national statement Saturday with the men's and women's teams logging top 10 finishes at the Lewis Crossover meet.
The No. 14 nationally ranked men's squad placed 3rd out of 36 teams while bettering West Region rival Chico State by one spot in the team standings. WWU finished with a team score of 153.0 to narrowly trail No. 10 Saginaw Valley (137.) and team champion No. 6 Colorado Christian (98.0). The Vikings were led by four top 30 finishes with sophomores Sten Brakstad (10th, 24:20.4) and Jonah Billings (20th, 24:29.3) in the top 20. Sophomore George Fernandez and junior Jared Alderfer crossed the finish line together in 25th and 26th place.
The Western women entered the race unranked in the USTFCCCA national poll but made sure they will be recognized in the coming week placing 6th with a team score of 246.0. WWU finished ahead of five teams listed in the top 30 in the nation, including No. 20 Tampa, No. 10 Walsh and No. 11 Fort Lewis. Sophomore transfer Sabrina Colbert led the way placing 26th with a 6K time of 22:07.6, followed by junior Jill Philbin in 31st place (22:13.9), senior Alexis Parker in 56th place (22:32.9) and junior Ella Edens in 65th place (22:38.2). No. 15 Chico State won the team title with 100 points and race host No. 9 Lewis placed second with a team score of 140.0.
With the regular season complete, the Vikings turn their attention to the GNAC Cross Championships that will be held in two weeks on October 25 at Amend Park in Billings, Montana. The Vikings are the three-time defending men's and women's cross country champions.
LEWIS CROSSOVER TOP 10 TEAMS
Here is a look at the top 10 team standings for the men's 8K and women's 6K at the Lewis Crossover held Saturday in Romeoville, Illinois on the campus of Lewis University. The men's and women's team standings featured 36 teams with WWU placing both teams inside the top 10. National rankings from the USTFCCCA are listed next to the team name in the results below.
|
Men's Team Scores
|
|
Women's Team Scores
|
|
PL
|
Team
|
Pts
|
|
PL
|
Team
|
Pts
|
|
1.
|
Colorado Christian (#6)
|
98.0
|
1.
|
Chico State (#15)
|
100.0
|
|
2.
|
Saginaw Valley (#10)
|
137.0
|
2.
|
Lewis (#9)
|
140.0
|
|
3.
|
Western Washington (#14)
|
153.0
|
3.
|
Biola
|
180.0
|
|
4.
|
Chico State (#8)
|
190.0
|
4.
|
Colorado Mesa (#28)
|
210.0
|
|
5.
|
Pittsburg State (#13)
|
191.0
|
5.
|
Pittsburg State (#14)
|
221.0
|
|
6.
|
Florida Southern (#21)
|
192.0
|
6.
|
Western Washington
|
246.0
|
|
7.
|
Lewis (#16)
|
281.0
|
7.
|
Tampa (#20)
|
253.0
|
|
8.
|
Northwest Nazarene (#18)
|
286.0
|
8.
|
Walsh (#10)
|
273.0
|
|
9.
|
Alaska Anchorage
|
307.0
|
|
9.
|
Alaska Anchorage
|
331.0
|
|
10.
|
Fort Lewis (#17)
|
314.0
|
|
10.
|
Fort Lewis (#11)
|
372.0
|
MEN'S RESULTS AT LEWIS CROSSOVER
Here is a look at the men's results from the 8K at the Lewis Crossover:
WOMEN'S RESULTS AT LEWIS CROSSOVER
Here is a look at the women's results from the 6K at the Lewis Crossover:
2025 WWU CROSS COUNTRY SCHEDULE
The 2025 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.
|
Date
|
Meet
|
Location
|
|
Sept. 13 (Sat.)
|
Green River Gator Invitational
|
Lakewood, WA (Fort Steilacoom Park)
|
|
Sept. 27. (Sat.)
|
Bill Roe Classic
|
Ferndale, WA (Hovander Park)
|
|
Oct. 11 (Sat.)
|
Emerald City Open
|
Seattle, WA (Lower Woodland Park)
|
|
Oct. 11 (Sat.)
|
Lewis Crossover
|
Romeville, IL (Lewis XC Course)
|
|
Oct. 25 (Sat.)
|
GNAC Championships
|
Billings, MT (Amend Park)
|
|
Nov. 8 (Sat.)
|
NCAA II West Regional Championships
|
Monmouth, OR (Ash Creek Preserve)
|
|
Nov. 22 (Sat.)
|
NCAA II National Championships
|
Kenosha, WI (Wayne E Danehl XC Course)
|
