MONMOUTH, Ore.--There won't be a championship trophy to put into the Western Athletic Center trophy case, but both WOU cross country teams can boast about being a part of two of the best team finishes for both programs in school history. 

Western Oregon's men raced to a second place finish at the 2026 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships today at Ash Creek Preserve, their best placing in the event since they won it in 2017. The WOU women finished third, their best finish since there were also third in 2010.

The men's runner-up performance also equals their second best crossing at the championships. They also finished second in 2007. For the women, their all-time best performance at the GNAC Championships was when they were second in 2007.

Additionally, head coach Zach Halloway has four All-GNAC runners in Remedan Seman, Matthew Resnik, Kyla Potratz and Maren Anderson. Anderson was also named the GNAC Freshman of the Year.

MEN'S 8K CHAMPIONSHIPS
Western Washington was the team winner, taking their fifth straight title. George Fernandez (23:37) and Jared Alderfer (23:39) went 1-2 for the Vikings to help them secure the trophy with 25 team points. Western Oregon had 66 points, followed by Alaska Anchorage (75), Northwest Nazarene (102), and Simon Fraser (154) to round out the top five of ten teams.

WOU's Remedan Seman (eighth place) and Matthew Resnik (ninth) both earned All-GNAC honors. Seman, who just missed that designation last year when he was the Wolves' top runner in 11th, clocked 24:05 on his home Ash Creek Preserve course. Resnik was right behind Seman in 24:10. 

Ethan Bothwell (13th, 24:22) and Logan Parker (14th, 24:25) were next for WOU, followed by Zander Campbell (24th, 24:45).

WOMEN'S 6K CHAMPIONSHIPS
Like with the men, Western Washington's women won their fifth straight team title with 44 points, just edging Central Washington who had 51. Western Oregon was next (96), followed by Northwest Nazarene (105) and Seattle Pacific (140) in the top five. 

Individually, Ella Edens of WWU won the race easily in 20:08. Spaced out behind Edens in second and third places were CWU's Madeline Harrison (20:22) and Payton Conover (20:48).

Kyla Potratz earned her second straight All-GNAC honor with an eighth place crossing in 21:06. The senior was fourth last year and with today's performance becomes the first WOU athlete to be a two-time All-GNAC runner. . 

Joining her on the All-GNAC team is freshman Maren Anderson (21:47) who finished in tenth. Western Oregon's young team also featured sophomores Nettle Grey in 22nd (21:54), Adele Beckstead in 26th (22:09) and Ali Heinly in 32nd (22:22). 

Up next for both teams is the NCAA West Region Championships, held this year in Sacramento, Calif. on Nov. 21 at Arcade Creek Park.

GNAC Women's Awards
Athlete of the Year - Ella Edens, Western Washington
Freshman of the Year - Maren Anderson, Western Oregon
Newcomers of the Year - Cameron Moore, Northwest Nazarene; Natalie Allen, Alaska Anchorage
GNAC Elite Scholar Athlete - Payton Conover, Central Washington

GNAC Men's Awards
Athlete of the Year - George Fernandez, Western Washington
Freshman of the Year - Rowan Jung, Western Washington
Newcomer of the Year - Benjamin Peck, Alaska Anchorage
GNAC Elite Scholar Athlete - Eli Williams, Western Washington

Coach ZACH QUOTES COMING