A CONVERSATION WITH: Gonzaga's Pat Tyson and Jake Stewart...
Both coaches recap the 2019 cross country season, which for the men's team, was perhaps the most successful in school history, but ended with the Bulldogs just missing out on qualifying for the NCAA championship meet in Terre Haute, Indiana, after placing third in the West Coast Conference championships, and sixth at the NCAA regionals in Colfax.
There was a bright side, as sophomore James Mwaura (above/photo by Paul Merca) from Tacoma became the second runner in school history to qualify for the national cross country championship meet as an individual, finishing 138th.
The women's cross country squad finished fourth in the WCC, then was 15th at the NCAA regionals. The Bulldogs won the early season Clash of the Inland Northwest, and were a close second behind Washington State at the Cougar Classic in Colfax, as Claire Manley was the team leader during the season.
Both coaches talk about the 2020 indoor season, as Aimee Piercy set school records in the 800, mile and 3000, while the men's team was led by Mwaura in the 3000, who broke 8 minutes twice, and freshman Evan Bates, who led the team in the 800 and mile.
We then talk about what the expectations were for the team before the global pandemic shut down sports and society, then finish the conversation talking about the returning athletes, the fall 2020 recruiting class, and the general state of the program.
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Here's the video:
NOTE: The Gonzaga University sports information office contributed to this report.
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