Complete results (PDF)
FAIRBANKS, Alaska – It was so much fun taking first place two days ago that Natty Plunkett figured she'd do it again.
Ditto for the Seattle Pacific men.
Falcons senior Plunkett followed up her second consecutive long-course victory on Thursday by winning her first short-course race on Saturday in the Alaska Nanook Invitational cross country meet. Plunkett (Bellevue, Wash./Newport HS) cruised through the 4-kilometer on the West Ridge Ski Trails in 15 minutes, 14.3 seconds. SPU teammate Heidi Laabs-Johnson (Salt Lake City) was close behind, taking second place in 15:18.7.
The Falcon men now have put together a two-meet winning streak, thanks to their performance on Saturday. Freshman Alex Horton (Kent, Wash./Kentridge HS) finished second and led a tightly bunched pack across the finish line, and Seattle Pacific finished with the day's low total of 23 points, well ahead of second-place Montana State Billings (49) and host Alaska Fairbanks (51).
The women, with Plunkett and Laabs-Johnson setting the pace, finished in the middle of the three-team pack with 43 points. Fairbanks won with 29 and Billings was third with 57.
Plunkett is running back at full strength after battling injuries most of last cross country season and for part of this past spring's outdoor track season.
“Natty is feeling really good, so I'm excited to see what is still to come,” SPU coach Erika Daligcon said.
The men ran in an even tighter pack on Saturday than they did on Thursday. Horton set the pace with a time of 12:58.9, good for second place behind Brian Potter of Montana State Billings, who posted a 12:49 after winning Thursday's 8-kilometer long-course race.
The other four Falcon scorers were within 20 seconds of Horton. Senior Jacob Wahlenmaier (Everett, Wash./Cascade HS) was third in 13;00.5; junior Will Harrison (Tucson, Ariz.) took fifth in 13:07.5; freshman Jordan Wolfe (Bend, Ore.) was sixth in 13:16.7; and junior AJ Baker (AuGres, Mich.) was seventh in 13:18.8.
The last time SPU posted a sweep in Alaska was in 2004.
“I wasn't sure what to expect, so I'm really pleased to see what has happened in the past two days,” Daligcon said. “I know we have a strong group of guys, and we don't even have the full squad yet. We just have to keep them healthy.”
Daligcon was particularly happy with the way freshman Horton ran after taking it out a bit too strong on Thursday.
“He ran a little bit more wisely today,” Daligcon said.
The Falcons return to action next Saturday at the Apple Ridge Run Invitational in Yakima. That meet will take place on the same course that will hose the Great Northwest Athletic Conference championships on Oct. 22, although next weekend's race will be at a shorter distance. Racing begins at 10:30 a.m.
NCAA WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
Alaska Nanook Invitational Short-Course
Saturday, September 3, 2011
4 kilometers at West Ridge Ski Trails/Fairbanks, Alaska
Team scores – 1, Alaska Fairbanks 29; 2, Seattle Pacific 43; 3, Montana State Billings 57.
Winner – Natty Plunkett (SPU) 15:14.3. Other SPU placers – 2, Heidi Laabs-Johnson 15:18.7; 10, Alli Cutting 16:13.9; 12, McKayla Fricker 16:34.5; 20, Josie Becker 17:44.4.
NCAA MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
Alaska Nanook Invitational Short-Course
Saturday, September 3, 2011
4 kilometers at West Ridge Ski Trails/Fairbanks, Alaska
Team scores – 1, Seattle Pacific 23; 2, Montana State Billings 49; 3, Alaska Fairbanks 51.
Winner – Brian Potter (MSUB) 12:49. SPU placers – 2, Alex Horton 12:58.9; 3, Jacob Wahlenmaier 13:00.5; 5, Will Harrison 13:07.5; 6, Jordan Wolfe 13:16.7; 7, AJ Baker 13:18.8; 15, Nathanael Sleight 13:48.0.
