Bernard Lagat wins 3000 in Rieti, plus Saturday cross country recap...

RIETI, Italy--One year after setting an American record of 7:29.00 on this track, Bernard Lagat (left/photo by Paul Merca) returned to Rieti, and won yet another 3000 meter race Saturday afternoon at the Rieti athletics meeting in the Italian town.

Lagat, the Washington State alum who finished second last Sunday in the 5000 at the IAAF world championships in Daegu, took the victory in a time of 7:32.13, as he bested a field that included world championship 5000 meter finalist Thomas Longosiwa of Kenya (3rd in 7:32.71), and Tariku Bekele of Ethiopia (4th in 7:34.71).

The race came down to the wire in the final lap with Lagat, Kenya's Vincent Chepkok, Longosiwa and Bekele fighting it out until the final straight.

Former Husky Ingvill Måkestad finished seventh in the women's 1500 in a season best of 4:04.12, as Mariem Selsouli of Morocco won in 4:01.40.

Results of the Rieti meeting are available here (click on a particular event).

In Yakima, Seattle Pacific's men's squad (31 points) and Western Washington's women's team (20 points) were victorious at the Apple Ridge Run Invitational in Yakima over the same course that will host the GNAC championships next month.

Seattle Pacific's Jordan Wolfe took the men's 6k title in 20:15, besting Central Washington's Manuel Santos by seven seconds, as the Falcons placed four runners in the top ten.

In the women's race, Katelyn Steen of Western won the 4k race in 15:43, as the Vikings put all five scorers in the top ten.

Complete results and scores from the Apple Ridge Run are available here.

In Sunriver, Oregon, the Gonzaga Bulldogs surprised 16th ranked Oregon 26-33 in the men's 4 mile competition, while #4 Oregon scored a perfect 15-50 decision in the women's 5k race.

Oregon's Ben DeJarnette won the men's race in 19:40, while Willie Milam (19:50) and Patrick Ritchie (20:05) went 2-3 for the Zags to lead the Spokane school to victory.

Gonzaga coach Pat Tyson dismissed the notion that Oregon didn't race four of their top six runners, including projected top runner Luke Puskedra, and sat their true freshmen in what was the season opening meet for the Ducks.

Oregon's Claire Michel (16:46) led six Ducks across the line in front of the Bulldogs' Lindsey Drake (17:17).

Complete results of the Oregon/Gonzaga dual are available here.