Annika Esvelt of Seattle Pacific finishes second at Green River Invitational...
STEILACOOM--There's a word commonly used in the track and cross country world describing the first meet of the season:
Rustbuster.
For all four of Washington's Division II schools, Saturday's Green River Invitational cross country meet at Fort Steilacoom State Park south of Tacoma, was exactly that--a chance to compete against other people for the first time this season.
The University of Portland, who essentially brought up their secondary group to Steilacoom, easily swept the team titles, scoring 25 to win the women's 4k, and a perfect 15 to take the men's crown over the 6k distance.
In the opening race of the day, Seattle Pacific's Annika Esvelt (Paul Merca photo) led early through the first of two 2k loops, but was reeled in by Portland's Juliette Forstrom, who took the win in 13:07 to Esvelt's 13:09.
Portland's Samantha Prusse (13:23), Teresa Perez (13:27), and Jane Roloff (13:29) took the next three spots.
Western Washington's Sophie Wright finished seventh in 13:35, followed by the Falcons' Maya Ewing in eighth in 13:37.
The Vikings' Ila Davis was ninth in 13:38, with her teammate, All-American Ashley Reeck rounding out the top ten in 13:39.
WWU assistant coach TJ Garlatz said that the Viking women, who were ranked number 9 in the USTFCCCA Division II national pre-season poll were instructed to run as a pack early, and then push the second half.
Central Washington's Payton Conover led the way for Central Washington in 41st in 14:33, while Kya Ramirez was the first runner across the line for Saint Martin's in 59th in 15:06.
After the University of Portland, Western Washington was second with 50 points, followed by Western Washington with 50. Seattle Pacific was third with 84 points.
Central Washington was sixth with 184 points, and Saint Martin's didn't have a full team.
In the men's 6k race, Portland's Nate Lantz took the win in 17:20, with four other Pilots finishing behind in a three second spread.
Central Washington's Johan Correa was sixth in 17:25, while his teammate, Ramon Rodriguez was the only other Washington D2 runner to crack the top ten in tenth in 17:44.
Western Washington's Sten Brakstad was the first of five Vikings to cross the line, in 17:49. Fifth runner George Karamitsos was 19th in 18:05, as the number 12 team in the pre-season national poll concentrated on pack running through the first half of the race.
The Vikings held out GNAC cross country champion Kevin McDermott.
Eli Dale led Saint Martin's with his 35th place finish in 18:29, and Silas Demmert was Seattle Pacific's top finisher in 51st place in 18:52.
After Portland's perfect 15 score, Western Washington was second with 74 points. Central Washington was fourth with 97 points.
Seattle Pacific was eighth with 241 points, while Saint Martin's was tenth in the 13-team field with 273.
Central Washington will turn around and compete at the Pacific Lutheran Invitational in Tacoma next Saturday, while the other three Washington GNAC school will run in two weeks at the Bill Roe Classic in Ferndale, hosted by Western Washington.
WSU ALUM CJ ALLEN FINISHES FOURTH IN WANDA DIAMOND LEAGUE FINALS...
In Brussels, Belgium, Washington State alum CJ Allen capped off his 2024 season with a fourth place finish in the 400 hurdles at the Allianz Memorial Van Damme, the final meet of the 15-meet Wanda Diamond League series at King Baudouin Stadium.
The US Olympian ran 48.68, as Alison dos Santos of Brazil, the two-time Olympic bronze medalist and 2022 world champion, won in 47.93.
In the only other Diamond League event involving an athlete with Washington ties, Woodinville native Olivia Markezich finished ninth in the 3000 steeplechase in 9:27.98.
Paris Olympic bronze medalist Faith Cherotich from Kenya won the race in 9:02.36.
Washington alum Eleanor Fulton was the first of two pacesetters in the women's 5000 won by double Olympic champion Beatrice Chebet of Kenya in a meet record 14:09.82.
NOTE: The sports information offices of Seattle Pacific, Western Washington, Central Washington, Saint Martin's, and the Wanda Diamond League contributed to this report.
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