Complete results (PDF)
FAIRBANKS, Alaska – When it comes to finishing No. 1, the Seattle Pacific women's cross country team is 2 for 2.
For the second time this week, sophomore
Robyn Zeidler led a strong pack performance as Falcon runners went 2-3-4-5-7 on Saturday to win the team title at the Alaska Fairbanks Short-Course Dual.
Coming off of the long-course crown on Thursday, SPU finished with the low score of 21 points. That was way in front of second-place Black Hills State's 46 and Alaska Fairbanks' third-place total of 61.
Both titles were the first for the Falcon women in three years of coming to the Alaska meet.
Seattle Pacific's men checked in second on Saturday, just as they did in Thursday's long-course event. The Falcons had 41 points, just five behind the 36 of victorious Black Hills State. Fairbanks was third with 52.
Erin Curran of Black Hills State took a commanding lead heading into the final kilometer of the 4-kilometer race on the West Ridge Ski Trails. She came across the finish line in 15 minutes, 11.7 seconds.
But after that, it was a flock of Falcons. Zeidler (Plymouth, Minn.) was second in 15:18.8; senior newcomer
Katie Thralls (Livermore, Calif.) was close behind in third at 15:29.1; and freshman
Katie Morris (Spokane, Wash. / Shadle Park HS) was just three seconds farther back in fourth at 15:32.4.
Sophomore
Jasmine Johnson (Federal Way, Wash. / Federal Way HS) moved up from Thursday's long-course race to take fifth in 16:09.1, and freshman
Lynelle Decker (Vancouver, Wash. / Mountain View HS), a former soccer player running in just her second ever cross country race (her first one was Thursday) rounded out the scoring by crossing the line seventh in 16:26.1.
Johnson was ninth and Decker 10
th in the long-course race.
“Lynelle and Jasmine moved up today and really worked together,” SPU coach Erika Daligcon said. “I'm really happy with the way they've been running. Lynelle already learned things from her first race. And
Katie Morris has shown that she's gritty and can hang with the other girls (at the front).”
Zeidler's performance was especially noteworthy. She has had her share of injury issues since making her SPU debut at this same meet in 2010 – and then missing the rest of that season and the first portion of the 2011 schedule.
But with the Falcons looking for a new pacesetter after the graduation of
Natty Plunkett and
Heidi Laabs-Johnson, Zeidler showed that the new pacesetter just might be her.
“Just seeing her out there and very much trusting in her fitness and her body and not being afraid to get out there and put things on the line was exciting,” Daligcon said.
BAKER LEADS SPU MEN
Speaking of 2 for 2, senior AJ Baker continued a strong early-season performance for Seattle Pacific's men. Baker (Au Gres, Mich.) was at the front of the pack for the Falcons on Saturday, logging a 12:50.3 for the 4 kilometers to take second place.
As was the case on Thursday, Mitch Kraft of Black Hills State was first across the line, stopping the watch in 12:44.3.
Baker's time was 28 seconds faster than he ran last year, when he finished seventh in the short-course event. In Thursday's long-course race, Baker was third overall by running 63 seconds faster than a year ago.
“AJ should be very pleased with himself and with his effort over the last two days,” Daligcon said.
Sophomore Tavish Taylor (Port Angeles, Wash. / Port Angeles HS), fourth for SPU and just 13
th overall in the long course, leaped all the way to No. 2 for the Falcons and fourth overall with his time of 13:00.7. Senior Jordan Wolfe (Bend, Ore.), second overall and Seattle Pacific's front man on Thursday, took seventh overall and No. 3 for the Falcons on Saturday in 13:07.6.
“We were slightly fatigued today, but still gave a good showing,” Daligcon said.
NCAA WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
Alaska Fairbanks Short-Course Dual
Saturday, September 1, 2012
4 kilometers at West Ridge Ski Trails / Fairbanks, Alaska
Team scores – 1, Seattle Pacific 21; 2, Black Hills State 46; 3, Alaska Fairbanks 61.
Winner – Erin Curran (BH) 15:11.7.
SPU placers – 2,
Robyn Zeidler 15:18.8; 3,
Katie Thralls 15:29.1; 4,
Katie Morris 15:32.4; 5,
Jasmine Johnson 16:09.1; 7,
Lynelle Decker 16:26.1; 10;
Josie Becker 16:46.0.
NCAA MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
Alaska Fairbanks Short-Course Dual
Saturday, September 1, 2012
4 kilometers at West Ridge Ski Trails / Fairbanks, Alaska
Team scores – 1, Black Hills State 36; 2, Seattle Pacific 41; 3, Alaska Fairbanks 52.
Winner – Mitch Kraft (BH) 12:44.3.
SPU placers – 2, AJ Baker 12:50.3; 4, Tavish Taylor 13:00.7; 7, Jordan Wolfe 13:07.6; 9, Seth Pierson 13:11.3; 22, Colin Wilkins 14:22.3.
