Cross Country set to host NCAA Division II West Regional this Saturday at Ash Creek Preserve

MONMOUTH, Ore. – Hosting events is an annual event for the Western Oregon University cross country teams, but getting to host a postseason meet always makes it a little more special. The Wolves will be competing against teams from the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, California Collegiate Athletic Association and Pac West Conference as all of the teams from the three conferences will converge on Monmouth this coming Saturday.

The women will begin the day with a 6k race at 10 a.m. followed by the men's 10k race at 11:15 a.m. Back in 2017, WOU hosted the NCAA Division II West Regional and hosted the GNAC Championships last season. So far this year WOU hosted the Ash Creek Invitational on Sept. 6 and the Sundowner on Sept. 20.

During last year's regionals that took place in Billings, Mont., the men placed sixth and the women came in 18^th. Tyler Jones and Dustin Nading each advanced as individuals to the NCAA Championships.

In last year's regional, Grace Knapp led the Wolves when she crossed in 34^th overall with a time of 22:10.97. Kaylin Cantu competed as a true freshman and crossed in 62^nd overall (61^st in scoring) with a time of 22:31.40. Cassie McKinney and Rachel Bayly each competed in the event in 2018 as the two finished right next to each other with McKinney coming in 142^nd overall (137^th in scoring) with a time of 24:27.38 and Bayly in 143^rd overall (138^th in scoring) with a time of 24:27.38. Danel Camacho was close to placing with McKinney and Bayly posting a time of 24:38.53 to come in 150^th overall (145^th in scoring). Shayla Solomon also returns after competing in last year's meet coming in with a time of 24:57.70 to finish 159^th overall (154^th in scoring).

On the men's side, Hunter Mosman returns after running to a time of 32:28.17 in last year's regional to come in 64^th overall (62^nd in scoring). Zach Kanelis clocked a time of 34:04.26 to come in 123^rd overall (117^th in scoring). Hunter Hutton was right behind with a time of 34:24.27 to place 132^nd overall (126^th in scoring).

Chico State enters as the top team in the region in both the women's and men's polls as Wildcats are ranked fourth on the women's side and second on the men's side. Other teams ranked in the top-25 include Western Washington (11^th women's, 21^st men's), Alaska Anchorage (13^th women's), Seattle Pacific (14^th women's), Cal State East Bay (16^th women's), Cal State San Marcos (16^th men's), UC San Diego (19^th men's, 23^rd women's), Cal Poly Pomona (21^st women's) and Cal State Stanislaus (25^th women's). Cal Poly Pomona and Biola are both receiving votes in the men's poll.

In the regional rankings entering the week, on the women's side the 10 teams ranked are Chico State, Western Washington, Alaska Anchorage, Seattle Pacific, Cal State East Bay, Cal Poly Pomona, UC San Diego, Cal State Stanislaus, Simon Fraser and Fresno Pacific. In the men's rankings Chico State, Cal State San Marcos, UC San Diego, Western Washington, Biola, Cal Poly Pomona, Cal State Stanislaus, Simon Fraser, Alaska Anchorage and Northwest Nazarene.

The top-three teams from each regional will automatically advance to the NCAA Championship field (24 teams total). Ten at-large teams will be selected by the NCAA Division II Men's and Women's Cross Country Committee using the selection criteria. There is no limit to the number of at-large teams that may be selected from any given region. The top-two individuals who are not part of a qualifying team will automatically advance to the championship finals (16 individuals total). All individuals who finish in the top-five at the regional meet an are not part of a qualifying team will automatically advance to the championship finals. The next eight individuals will be selected at-large.

WOU is coming off placing sixth in both the women's and men's races at the GNAC Championships that took place on Oct. 26 in a snowy Billings, Mont. Justin Crosswhite and Knapp each earned All-GNAC honors by placing in the top-10. Olivia Jimenez was named Newcomer of the Year.

Prior to the GNAC Championships, Knapp had her top time of the season sitting at 22:30.8 and then cruised to a new mark of 22:04.30 when she crossed in fifth in Billings. Jimenez has put together similar times in her last two races as she posted a time of 23:17.60 at the GNAC Championship to come in 23^rd and had an even better time in Bellingham when she crossed with a time of 23:15.2. Cantu was able to get back on pace at the GNAC's when she crossed with a time of 23:41.20 to place 34^th as that was after she had a time of 24:06.5 in Bellingham. Her time in Montana was similar to her time in the Sundowner posting a time of 23:43.2. McKinney clocked a time of 24:00.0 at the GNAC's to come in 39^th in scoring, but had a pair of strong races earlier this year as she posted times of 23:36.1 at the Sundowner and then did even better in Bellingham with a time of 23:31.2. Faerynn Glasscock came in 52^nd in scoring at the GNAC Championships when she had a time of 25:19.60. It was a strong showing for Glasscock as she was able to trim some time off of her previous race in Bellingham of 25:32.8. Her GNAC showing was close to the time at the Sundowner in which she crossed at 25:23.9. Bayly was the next one in at the GNAC's when she came in 60^th in scoring with a time of 25:51.80. Bayly had a strong race earlier in Bellingham when she posted a time of 25:13.3. Rounding out the runners for the Wolves will be Danel Camacho as she posted a time of 26:09.90 at the GNAC's to come in 63^rd in scoring. She cut several seconds off her previous event in Bellingham in which she came in 26:29.1.

On the men's side, Crosswhite made a push to win the individual title at the GNAC Championships before he finished runner-up with a time of 24:54.10. It was another strong 8k race for Crosswhite as he posted a time of 24:57.1 in the Sundowner hosted by WOU and also had a time of 32:56.2 in the 10k race in Bellingham. Hunter Mosman and Sawyer Heckard were the next ones in at the GNAC with Mosman posting a time of 26:07.00 to come in 22^nd and Heckard in 25^th with a time of 26:17.70. Mosman had a strong time of 25:39.8 in the Sundowner and added a time of 33:59.2 in Bellingham. Heckard also clocked a solid time for him at the Sundowner crossing with a time of 25:54.7 and also had a time of 33:22.8 in Bellingham. Andy Muha was close to giving WOU four in the top-30 in the GNAC's when he crossed in 31^st with a time of 26:32.20. During the 8k race at the Sundowner she crossed with a time of 26:06.0 and then added a time of 32:35.0 at the Western Washington Invitational 10k race. Kanelis came in 41^st in scoring at the GNAC's with a time of 26:46.70. Emmett Klus grabbed a time of 27:04.90 to come in 49^th in scoring, Curt Knott added a time of 28:33.80 and 66^th in scoring, while Adam Alnazer crossed in 28:34.50 to place 78^th overall. Bryce Mefford also participated at the GNAC's with a time of 29:33.10 to come in 81^st. Kanelis had a time of 27:05.4 at the Sundowner and Klus added a time of 27:10.8 at the Sundowner. Knott finished with a time of 27:14.4 at the Sundowner and then Alnazer posted a time of 27:56.7 at the Sundowner and he also ran in Bellingham clocking a time of 35:15.5 in the 10k race. Mefford ran earlier in the Ash Creek Invitational in the 6k race when he crossed with a time of 19:39.8. Derek Holdsworth may also get a chance at Regionals as he competed in Bellingham running to a time of 35:47.6 in the 10k race.

Live results will be available during the race and can be found here

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