The road to Sacramento begins in Billings Saturday with the GNAC championships...
Saturday, Seattle Pacific, Western Washington, Central Washington, and Saint Martin’s will line up their squads at the Great Northwest Athletic Conference championship meet, hosted by Montana State Billings at Amend Park.
On the women’s side, Seattle Pacific is the highest ranked team in the latest USTFCCCA Division II poll at number 7, while Western Washington is ranked number 14.
All of the accolades from the nation’s voting coaches are irrelevant, as the path to the GNAC title goes straight through the Seawolves of Alaska-Anchorage, who is ranked number 16.
Alaska Anchorage’s women come into the meet having won four straight GNAC titles and nine in the last 10 years.
Meanwhile, Seattle Pacific, which ran without All-American Kaylee Mitchell at the Western Washington Classic two weeks ago, is looking to win its first conference title since Jessica Pixler led the Falcons in 2008. Additionally, the Vikings of Western Washington are looking to win their first conference title.
Senior Kate Lilly (left/photo by Paul Merca) placed 12th at conference last year and finished ahead of both UAA runners at the Capital Cross Challenge with her best of 21:03. Junior Dania Holmberg will be in that top-10 mix as well, having notched a top-five finish at the Western Washington Classic.
Western Washington has exhibited team title potential, especially late in the season. The Vikings placed second at their own WWU Classic, finishing five points ahead of Alaska Anchorage and 22 points ahead of Seattle Pacific. Junior Jane Barr has been the Vikings’ No. 1 runner all season, running her 6-kilometer season-best of 22:17.5 at home. Sophomore Tovah Swartz-Ireland has raced No. 2 much of the season and has the potential for a top-10 finish.
While both Seattle Pacific and Western Washington have firepower up front, their numbers 3 through 5 runners will determine whether or not they get the top spot on the podium. If those 3 through 5 runners can finish under a minute behind their lead runners, their chances at wresting the conference crown from Alaska Anchorage will be enhanced.
On the mens side, none of the four Washington schools are ranked in the national top 25.
Alaska-Anchorage remains the team to beat, but the Vikings of Western Washington are the team with the best chance of upsetting the Seawolves Saturday.
The Vikings have run quite strong this season, placing fourth at the Roy Griak Invitational and second at the Western Washington Classic where they bettered UAA by 19 points, scoring 96 points.
Junior Eric Hamel has led the Vikings much of the season, registering three top-20 finishes and a best of 26:09 over 8 kilometers at the Roy Griak Invitational. The 10th place finisher at last year’s championships, Hamel placed 15th at the Western Washington Classic. A quartet behind Hamel has provided solid depth, including seniors Liam Cossette and James Jasperson along with junior Edward Kilobasa.
Both Central Washington and Seattle Pacific have seen significant improvements this season. Junior Trevor Allen earned a top-10 finish at the Sundowner Invitational, running a collegiate-best of 25:06. Senior Matt Conrardy and junior Rajesh Gill will provide additional depth.
The Falcons opened the season by winning the PLU Invitational and turned in a solid eighth-place finish at the Western Washington Classic. Colby Otero has been solid in his sophomore season, placing third at the PLU Invitational with a season-best time of 25:48. Junior Colin Boutin led SPU at the Western Washington Classic while junior Elius Graff ran 26:11 for 8 kilometers at the John Payne/Curtis Invitational.
The GNAC preview of the championships is available here, while the link to the live results is available here.
NOTE: The Great Northwest Athletic Conference contributed to this report.
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