FAIRBANKS, Alaska – Natty Plunkett came through with another strong run, taking third place, and the Seattle Pacific women also finished third in the Alaska Nanook Invitational Short-Course cross country meet on Saturday.

The Falcons wound up with 49 points. The host Nanooks won with 32, and Northwest Nazarene was second with 46.

Plunkett (Bellevue, Wash./Newport HS), after coming from behind on Thursday and then pulling away to a victory of nearly 26 seconds, was among the leaders again on Saturday, as she finished in 15:26.8. Raphaela Sieber of Alaska Fairbanks won in 15:19.9, and Jaclyn Puga of Northwest Nazarene was second in 15:25.5.

Falcon freshman Allison Cutting (Sequim, Wash./Sequim HS) joined Plunkett in the top 10, placing fifth in 15:55. Freshman Robyn Zeidler (Plymouth, Minn.) was 12th in 16:40; sophomore Krysta Carrick (Tokyo, Japan) was 13th in 16:41, and sophomore Kelsey Brown (Colorado Springs, Colo.) took 17th in 17:43.

“On the second hill, I started passing some people,” Plunkett said. “The only thing disappointing today was my kick wasn't there, and this one person (NNU's Puga) passed me in the last five seconds.

Still, Plunkett considered it a successful week up north.

“I really liked the course – it had a good feel to it – and the weather was perfect,” Plunkett said of the 60-degree temperatures. “And it was exciting to race as a team, rather than as three returners and two freshmen. On Thursday, I wanted to be with the front pack, because I felt that was the right place for me. In the second half of the race, I really started closing on the Fairbanks girl, and I realized they were starting to get a little tired on the hills. I know my strength is hills, and I knew I had to make my decision to go”

Added assistant coach Letiwe Patton, “This was a good way for us to know where we are and know what we need to work on for our next races.”


NCAA WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
Alaska Nanook Invitational Short-Course
Saturday, September 4, 2010
4 kilometers at West Ridge Ski Trails/Fairbanks, Alaska

Team scores – 1, Alaska Fairbanks 32; 2, Northwest Nazarene 46; 3, Seattle Pacific 49
Winner – 1, Raphaeia Sieber (UAF) 15:19.9. SPU placers – 3, Natty Plunkett 15:26.8; 5, Allison Cutting 15:55.7; 12, Robyn Zeidler 16:40.6; 13, Krysta Carrick 16:41.7; 17, Kelsey Brown 17:43.2.