Courtesy https://www.nwacsports.org
LACEY, Wash. – On Monday, November 18th, eleven men's teams and thirteen women's teams will line up at Saint Martin's University for the 2019 NWAC Cross Country Championships. This year the women start off the action at 11:00 a.m., with the men to follow at noon. The top three teams earn trophies, while the top 10 individuals earn conference awards, with the top seven finishers being recognized as All-American.
WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP 5-KILOMETER RACE
TEAM RACE
The Sasquatch of Spokane come into this race having won the last six consecutive conference championships but find themselves in a new position this year, that of underdog. The Titans of Lane come into the meet as the favorites after finishing second to Spokane three of the last five years. Lane last won a women's title in 2005. The Southern Region champions will be chased by a Sasquatch team that is looking to continue their record streak and the Chuckars of Treasure Valley, who were runner-up to Lane at the Southern Region meet. It will be a tall order for either team, as Lane swept the Southern Region Championship, scoring a perfect 15. The Green River Gators come in as North-West Region champions, and look to secure a podium spot, as do the Everett Trojans and the Umpqua Riverhawks, who were second and third in their respective Region Championships.
INDIVIDUAL RACE
Last year's third place finisher, and current top returner in the conference, Jolene Whiteley of Spokane, has set herself apart from the competition. Finishing top 10 in every race this season, including against NCAA D1 competition, Jolene has racked up individual wins at the Puget Sound Invitational and the prestigious Willamette Invitational. No athlete from the conference has been within a minute of Jolene this season.
Behind Jolene, the ladies of Lane have been tearing up the front ranks of the NWAC, led by freshman Jazmin Chavez. Behind her has been a tight pack of Titans, including two of the top returners from last year's Championship race in sophomores Alexis Crowl and Claire Ebert, who were sixth and ninth, respectively. North-West Region individual champion Samantha Goedde of Green River has been running strong all season and looks to challenge up front. Spokane sophomore Ashley Hauger and Umpqua freshman Jasmine Lake have both broken into the deep Lane pack and look to take podium spots as well.
THE FAVORITE: Jolene Whiteley – Spokane
OTHERS TO WATCH: Page Neff – Clark; Ellie London – Everett; Samantha Goedde- Green River; Jazmin Chavez, Piper Crook, Alexis Crowl, Claire Ebert, McKenzie Hoyt, Isabella Kansala, Daelyn Wilde & Maddy Woodward – Lane; Ashley Hauger – Spokane; Alley Whitmer & Mary Letham – Treasure Valley; Jasmine Lake – Umpqua
MEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP 8-KILOMETER RACE
TEAM RACE
Like the Spokane women, the Lane men come into the championship with a streak on the line. And much like the women's race, the defending champions are the underdog this year. The Titans have won the last three NWAC Championships, all over Spokane, and all by slim margins, including last year's two-point victory. This year it is Spokane that comes in as the favorite after picking up team wins at Puget Sound and Willamette this season. Lane looks to knock off Spokane and keep their championship streak alive after winning the Southern Region meet. The Clark Penguins came in second at the Southern Region meet and look to secure a podium spot, as do the North-West Region champion Gators of Green River. Treasure Valley, third at the Southern Region meet, has finished third in three the last four years and looks to trophy once again this year.
INDIVIDUAL RACE
Although there are three individuals returning from last year's top ten finishers (Keanu Daos, Spokane – fourth, Anthony Stone, Lane – sixth, and Jesse Todd, Lane – ninth), this year's favorites are newcomers. Freshman Johan Correa of Spokane has been the top runner in the NWAC all season long, with a conference leading mark of 24:40 at the Willamette Invite.
Johan has not gone completely unchallenged this season however, even by his own teammates. Spokane freshmen Christian Kuplack and Giovanni Raskell have both finished close behind Correa at times this season. Also looking to challenge for the individual title is Southern Region individual champion Abdi Ibrahim of Clackamas, who has a 25:09 season best. Daniel Beckstead of Lane has been running strong all season, and certainly looks to challenge for the individual title after his runner-up finish at the Southern Region Meet. The North-West Region meet champion Ben Benson of Green River will also be racing for a podium finish.
THE FAVORITES: Johan Correa – Spokane; Abdi Ibrahim – Clackamas; Daniel Beckstead – Lane; Christian Kuplack – Spokane
OTHERS TO WATCH: Micah Goff & Evans Kaame – Clark; Ben Benson – Green River; Tristan Robinson, Tanner Sayers, Anthony Stone & Jesse Todd– Lane; Casey Bennett, Alfonzo Cuevas, Keanu Daos, John Dorr & Giovanni Raskell – Spokane; Riley McDowell – Treasure Valley
NWAC CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
11:00 a.m. – Women's Championship 5K Race
12:00 p.m. – Men's Championship 8K Race
12:50 p.m. – Awards