Complete men's results
       Complete women's results

BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Andrew Van Ness led a tightly bunched pack of Seattle Pacific runners across the finish line in the men's race, and Krysta Carrick did likewise in the women's race on Saturday, pacing their respective Falcon teams to fourth-place finishes in the Western Washington Preview at East Lake Padden Park.

Seattle Pacific's men finished with 111 points in its five-team competition. The University of British Columbia was the winner with 31.

The SPU women totaled 122 points in the five-team meet, which was won by Simon Fraser with 21.

For Falcon sophomore Van Ness (Bellevue, Wash./Bellevue Christian HS), it was his first time in front of the Falcon pack at the finish line. Van Ness completed his 8-kilometer run in 27:15.

Four Seattle Pacific teammates were right behind him: junior Daniel Hamilton (Missoula, Mont.) 25th in 27:20; junior Nate Sleight (Bellevue, Wash./Bellevue Christian HS) 26th in 27:24; sophomore AJ Baker (AuGres, Mich.) 27th in 27:31; and senior Jacob Wahlenmaier (Everett, Wash./Cascade HS) 29th in 27:37.

Van Ness ran No. 3 for SPU at the Alaska Nanook Invitational Short Course on Sept. 4 and again at Sundodger on Sept. 18. He was No. 5 for the Falcons last week at the Bowles Invite.

For sophomore Carrick (Tokyo, Japan), it was the second time in the past three meets that she has been first across the line for the Falcons, having done it previously two weeks ago at the Saint Martin's Invitational. Her time for Saturday's 5-kilometer race was 20 minutes, 20 seconds, giving her 32nd place overall.

Last week at the Charles Bowles Invitational in Salem, Carrick ran No. 2 for the Falcons, trailing only freshman teammate Alli Cutting.

The other four SPU scorers were within half a minute and nine places of Carrick. Sophomore Laura Moser (Sequim, Wash./Sequim HS) was 35th in 20:30; sophomore Kelsey Brown (Colorado Springs, Colo.) took 36th in 20:33; freshman Megan Knape (Rockland, Mich.) came through 39th in 20:42, and junior Kayla Wilkins (Vancouver, Wash./Evergreen HS) completed the scoring in 41st overall with a time of 20:44.

The race was the first of two regular-season events on the Lake Padden course that will serve as the site of the NCAA West Regionals in November. While Saturday's events were at abbreviated distances, the next one will be a full-fledged regional preview on Saturday, Oct. 23, at the Western Washington Cross Country Classic. The men will run 10 kilometers, and the women will go 6K.

The Falcons have next weekend off from competition in preparation for the Oct. 23 pre-regional meet.


NCAA MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
Western Washington Preview
Saturday, October 9, 2010
8 kilometers at East Lake Padden Park/Bellingham, Wash.

Team scores – 1, British Columbia 31; 2, Western Washington 39; 3, Simon Fraser 58; 4, Seattle Pacific 111; 5, Trinity Western 153.

Top 5 – 1, Bennett Grimes (WWU) 25:38; 2, Jordan Smith (UBC) 26:01; 3, Keir Forester (SFU) 26:05; 4, Theo Hunt (UBC) 26:13; 5, Ryan Brockerville (SFU) 26:20. SPU placers – 24, Andrew Van Ness 27:15; 25, Daniel Hamilton 27:20; 26, Nate Sleight 27:24; 27, AJ Baker 27:31; 29, Jacob Wahlenmaier 27:37; 41, Nate Seely 28:19; 45, Jordan Lance 28:40; 47, Gavin Brand 28:54; 56, Nicholaus Schonewald 29:24; 58, Josiah Sherwood 29:31. 


NCAA WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
Western Washington Preview
Saturday, October 9, 2010
5 kilometers at East Lake Padden Park/Bellingham, Wash.

Team scores – 1, Simon Fraser 21; 2, Western Washington 57; 3, British Columbia 58; 4, Seattle Pacific 122; 5, Trinity Western 151.

Top 5 – 1, Jessica Smith (SFU) 17:46; 2, Lauren Breihof (WWU) 18:07; 3 Helen Croft (SFU) 18:11; 4, Angela Shaw (SFU) 18:13; 5, Maggie Woodward (UBC) 18:48. SPU placers – 32, Krysta Carrick 20:20; 35, Laura Moser 20:30; 36, Kelsey Brown 20:33; 39, Megan Knape 20:42; 41, Kayla Wilkins 20:44; 44, Josie Becker 20:54; 52, Leah Swanson 21:21.