Bii and Kurui win Cougar Classic cross country season opener...
COLFAX--Millie Bii (Dean Hare/WSU Athletics) and Evans Kurui of Washington State led the way for the Cougars as both nationally ranked squads opened their 2026 cross country season victorious at the Cougar Classic at the Colfax Golf Club.
In the opening women's 5k race, Cougar freshman Bii (listed on the World Athletics database as Millicent Chelangat), cruised to victory in 16:21, followed by Lauren Hoyt in 16:36.
The Cossey sisters--Hailey and Aleeya, finished third and fourth for the Cougs in 16:52 and 16:55, while Mercy Biwott closed out the WSU scorers in fifth in 17:02, to give the Cougs a 1-5 split of 41 seconds.
Central Washington was led by Maddy Harrison in sixth in 17:24, followed by Payton Conover in 11th in 17:53.
Hannah Pidduck Wass 12th in 18:09, followed by Lillian Neff in 16th in 18:21, and Dawn Hulstedt in 18th in 18:52. Central finished with a 1-5 split of 1:28.
The number 21 ranked Cougs scored a perfect 15 in the three team race, while Central Washington took second with 52, and Montana third at 77 points.
Kutoven Stevens was third in 23:11, followed by Kade Brownell in fifth in 23:51, and Eric Sweden in sixth in 24:15 to give WSU a 1-5 split of 1:38.
Weston Breen led the way for Central Washington in 13th in 25:27. Charlie Naught was second for the Wildcats in 26:26, followed by Cristian Rosca in 22nd in 26:57.
Sylas Allen was 23rd in 27:27, and Sam Wagner closed out the Central Washington scorers in 25th in 27:35. The Wildcats finished with a 1-5 split of 2:08.
Washington State scored 17 points to Montana's 44 and Central Washington's 82 points.
“The kids did awesome on both sides; I’m impressed by our leaders but also the depth of our team," WSU head coach Wayne Phipps said after the meet.
The Cougars return to action in eight days when they go to Terre Haute, Indiana, the site of this year's NCAA cross country championships for the John McNichols Invitational, where they will see the University of Washington make its season debut.
Central Washington races next Saturday in Tacoma at the PLU Invitational.
SEATTLEU SQUADS FINISH FOURTH AT ASH CREEK INVITATIONAL IN ALEX JENSEN'S COACHING DEBUT...
In Monmouth, Oregon, both Seattle University cross country squads finished fourth at the Ash Creek Invitational hosted by Western Oregon Friday evening in the head coaching debut of Alex Jensen, who was elevated to acting head coach in late July.
In the opening men's 6k race, freshman Jacob Crisman led the way for the Redhawks in 15th place in 18:48. He was followed by freshman Connor Ward in 17th in 18:55, and sophomore Casey Miller in 21st in 19:00.
Freshmen Joshua Prince was 27th in 19:21, and Riley Tricas closed out SeattleU's scorers in 37th in 19:39. The Redhawks' 1-5 split was 51 seconds.
Host Western Oregon won with 17 points, led by individual winner Matthew Resnick's 17:44.
Portland State was second with 73 points, followed by Simon Fraser with 93, and SeattleU fourth with 97 points.
In the women's 5k race, the Redhawks were led by freshman Cate Bishop in tenth in 18:52, followed by fellow frosh Johnny Eggert in 18:56.
Sophomore Mira Danish was 28th in 19:26, followed by freshman Sydney Brantley in 29th in 19:31, and freshman Gia Petrini in 30th in 19:33. The Redhawks' 1-5 split was 41 seconds.
Western Oregon won the team title with 33 points. Simon Fraser was second with 48 points, led by individual winner Ray Matonovich's 17:44. Portland State was third with 71 points, and SeattleU was fourth in the ten-team field with 98 points.
The Redhawks next race is September 18th at the Saint Mary's College Invitational in Moraga, California, hosted by Saint Mary's College.
MILLER, MOLL, MOON AND WOODRUFF READY TO ROLL SATURDAY...
Brandon Miller of the Brooks Beasts kicks things off at 9:26 am Pacific in the first of two heats of the men's 800 meters, where he'll need to finish fourth or higher to advance to Sunday's final at 10:41 am Pacific.
Miller drew the same heat as Kenya's Emmanuel Wanyonyi, the reigning Olympic and world champion.
At 9:43 am, both defending world champion and former Pullman resident Katie Moon, along with Washington's Hana Moll, the newly minted Diamond League champion, are in the women's pole vault, featuring fellow Americans Sandi Morris and Emily Grove, along with Switzerland's Angelica Moser, who pressed Moll in the last three Diamond League meets.
Three minutes later, Washington alum Gianna Woodruff (photo courtesy World Athletics) runs in the first of two heats in the women's 400 hurdles. Her heat features the likes of Slovakia's Emma Zapletalová, who was dominant for most of the Diamond League circuit, and Rushell Clayton of Jamaica.
Should Woodruff finish in the top four, she'll advance to Sunday's finals at 9:08 am Sunday.
Saturday's portion of the meet will be shown on Peacock ($) starting at 9 am.
NOTE: The sports information office of Washington State University and World Athletics contributed to this report.
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