Gonzaga University
West Coast Conference Championship
Bulldogs Boyle Fourth In WCC Cross Country Championships
10/30/2010 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country
Oct. 30, 2010
Complete Men's Results in PDF Format 
Complete Women's Results in PDF Format
BELMONT, Calif. - Gonzaga University junior Chris Boyle set a school record for the West Coast Conference Cross Country Championships in earning his second straight All-WCC country honor Saturday, finishing fourth in the WCC Championships at Crystal Springs Course.
Boyle, 10th a year ago, finished fourth in 25:08 over the 8K layout, shaving 26 seconds off his time of a year ago and breaking the Gonzaga record of 25:28 last set by Joe Miller in 2006.
Gonzaga head coach Pat Tyson summed up the Bulldogs performance quite simply.
"It was a good day for Gonzaga, not a great day. But we're getting better in a much more competitive league," Tyson said.
The Bulldog men replicated their fifth-place finish of a year ago and the Bulldog women improved one spot to fifth. The Gonzaga men scored 107 points to finish 10 points behind Loyola Marymount for fourth and 11 points behind third-place Santa Clara University. As expected, the University of Portland won a 32nd straight title with 36 points and had the individual champion in junior Craig Hopkins who covered the course in 25:01.
Gonzaga's women scored 120 points, three points behind SCU for fourth. The University of San Francisco defended its team title with 38 points, while Loyola Marymount University's Tara Erdmann was the individual champion in 20:21.
Senior Laura Volcheff was the top Bulldog woman, finishing 20th in 21:58 for her first career sub-22 minute 6K.
Boyle turned in another strong performance.
"We have a top gun in Boyle who was in the hunt to win and ended up seven seconds out first, five seconds out of second and three seconds out of third. He showed a lot of moxie and was second early in the race," Tyson said.
Boyle will make his second straight trip to the NCAA West Regional in Springfield, Ore., Nov. 13.
Tyson pointed out the toughness of the WCC, especially on the women's side.
"We would have had 85 points last year based on these times. Laura would have been 11th last year with her time this year. The team scores were tight. We were chasing fourth place but didn't quite catch them. But we were beaten pretty handily by Pepperdine in Seattle this year, so it was good to avenge that loss," Tyson said.
The Bulldog women edge Pepperdine by eight points.
Freshman Emily Thomas was 22nd for the Bulldogs in 22:17, sophomore Lauren Bergam was 23rd in 22:24 and senior Brittany O'Regan was 25th in 22:33 as the Bulldogs had a pack at the finish line.
"Emily ran a strong race for her first time," Tyson said. "She got some valuable experience which can only help her next year. It was good to see Brittany have a solid outing in her final race."
Brenn Donnelly was the fifth Bulldog across the line, finishing 30th in 22:47 as the top five runners had personal bests for 6K.
Tate Kelly was second for the men and 21st overall in 26:09. Senior Matt Bejar was 22nd in 26:11, sophomore Christian Burger 28th in 26:21 and freshman Robert Walgren 32nd in 26:32 to round out the Bulldogs top five.
"Bejar had his last hurrah on a course he has run several times," Tyson said of his senior who is from San Jose, Calif., not too far from the Crystal Springs Course. "Walgren got his feet wet for the future and Kelly and Burger will continue to improve."
