Gonzaga University
West Coast Preview at Pier Park
Bulldog Men First, Women Second At West Coast Preview
9/11/2009 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country
Sept. 11, 2009
Complete Men's Results in PDF Format 
Complete Women's Results in PDF Format
PORTLAND, Ore. - Gonzaga University's men captured the team title and the Bulldog women finished second at the West Coast Preview at Pier Park cross country meet Friday evening.
The Bulldog men had five runners in the top 13 to edge Willamette University 36-39, while the Bulldog women had five runners in the top 10 but were edged by the University of Portland 29-32.
Brett Withers paced the strong men's contingent, finishing fourth in 26:03.0. Portland redshirt freshman Joash Osoro, one of the top high school runners in the country prior to his collegiate days, ran unattached and won the 8K men's race in 25:30.79.
The Bulldogs claimed spots 10-13 with Andrew Walker 10th in 26:30.0 followed by Tate Kelly, 26:31.0, Christian Burger in 26:48.0 and Patrick Richie in 26:54.0.
The women were led by senior Molly Funk who finished second in 22:39.0, just behind the 22:27.0 of Portland Lyndy Davis. Brenn Donnelly was fifth for the Bulldogs in 23:17.0 followed by Kayla Lloyd seventh in 23:28, Elizabeth Slamkowski eighth in 23:30.0 and Corrina O'Brien 10th in 23:40.0.
"We ran well," second-year head coach Pat Tyson said. "Brett and Molly had outstanding races. The encouraging thing about Brett is he's healthy. He was running about 10th through 4K and then picked the pace up over the last 4K. Overall, it was a good showing in Portland for both teams."
Of the top five men's finishers Withers and Walker are the only two veterans, while on the women's side Funk, Slamkowski and O'Brien were members of the squad a year ago.
"We showed we have some solid veterans, but some of the younger runners also showed they belong at this level," said Tyson.
Tyson said the showing was even more impressive considering the heat in Portland.
"It was 90 degrees or better today in Portland. There wasn't too much shade to be found today," he said.
The Bulldogs, who opened the season last weekend at the Clash of the Northwest at Spokane's Mead High, now get two weeks off prior to competing at the Plantes Ferry Invitational in Spokane Oct. 26.
