Skip To Main Content

Gonzaga University Athletics

Cross Country

Cross Country Gets First Competition Of Season Saturday

Sept. 3, 2010

SPOKANE, Wash. - Gonzaga University's men's and women's cross country teams will get their first taste of competition this fall at the Inland Northwest Cross Country Classic to be held at Virgil Phillips Farm County Park located off Highway 95 between Moscow and Potlatch in Idaho.

The park is five miles north of Moscow and eight miles west of Potlatch. There are brown County Park signs indicating the turnoff from Highway 95 both directions on the highway. The entrance is on the west side of Highway 95.

Leading the GU men's squad is junior Chris Boyle, an All-West Coast Conference preseason pick this year who finished 10th for the Bulldogs in the WCC Championship a year ago to earn All-WCC honors. He also competed in the West Regional in 2009.

Other WCC performers from a year ago returning for the men are senior Matt Bejar, 23rd; sophomore Tate Kelly who finished 30th as a freshman; sophomore Patrick Richie who was 37th, and sophomore Brad Kachigan who was 41st.

"Chris Boyle is a Top 10 guy who is picked to be All-WCC again," third-year head coach Pat Tyson said. "Right behind him are guys who were seasoned as freshmen, then we have Matt Bejar who is a senior and if we can keep him healthy he is a top 10 runner for us. Lucas Rothenberger (sophomore) is another returnee who I've seen some excitement from in his workouts and he seems to be on a mission."

Tyson also likes what he's seen from his freshmen class.

"The list of freshmen is as good as any in the history of this program and I'm not sure who I would even single out. But Nate Gesell out of Auburn (Wash.) Riverside High has a gift I really like," according to Tyson.

Senior captain Laura Volcheff has made great strides. Not in the top seven last fall, she had an outstanding track season in the spring that included a personal best in the 5,000 meters.

"Surprisingly Laura wasn't in our top seven last fall, but she came out in the spring and had a solid track season." Tyson said. "We're looking for a strong fall from her."

Junior Elizabeth Slamkowski led the Bulldogs in the WCC Championship last season, finishing 22nd while senior Brittany O'Regan was 27th, sophomore Lauren Bergam was 30th, sophomore Kayla Lloyd was 32nd and junior Brenn Donnelly was 40th.

"O'Regan, Slamkowski, Donnelly and Llolyd will be the nucleus," Tyson said. "But again, they will be challenged by the greatest recruiting class in program history."

Tyson said Catherine Theobald from Bend (Ore.) "is one of many who could compete for a top seven spot."

Saturday's meet will be "great to get the butterflies out of the way early in the season for the athletes. It's certainly not our goal to peak here. It's our goal to learn a little about each other and learn what we have and see if we have some kids that are risk takers. If nothing else we'll see where we are," Tyson said.

The Bulldog coach likes the progress the program is making.

"We're better than we were 24 months ago, and we're way better than we were 12 months ago," he said. "But what we do in the WCC is up to us. We were picked fifth, but can we sneak up and beat the odds and get fourth? Who knows. Hopefully, there's a little magic here to beat the odds."

The University of Portland men and University of San Francisco women were chosen to take home the conference titles again this year according to the 2010 WCC Cross Country Preseason Coaches Poll. The Portland men earned the maximum 49 points, securing the first place vote from all other seven coaches in the conference, while the San Francisco women's team garnered 48 points and six first place votes.

WEST COAST CONFERENCE PRESEASON POLLS
(First-Place Votes In Parentheses)

MEN1. Portland (7)     492. Loyola Marymount 40   San Francisco (1)    404. Santa Clara      315. Gonzaga       256. San Diego        167. Pepperdine       158. Saint Mary's           8

WCC Preseason All-Conference Team
Alfred Kipchumba, PORChris Boyle, GONChris Sampson, SCUGanbileg Bor, USFJared Bassett, PORLars Erik Malde, PORMatt Frerker, PORRobbie Reid, SCUSterling Lockert, LMUTrevor Dunbar, POR

WOMEN1. San Francisco (6) 482. Portland (1) 413. Loyola Marymount (1) 404. Santa Clara 305. Gonzaga 216. Pepperdine 207. San Diego 178. Saint Mary's 7

WCC Preseason All-Conference Team
Chelsea Wishard, PEPEva Krchova, USFHeather Zytkewicz, USFHillary Kigar, USFLyndy Davis, PORMary Reynolds, SCUNicole Bowler, USFSheree Shea, LMUStephanie Wilson, SCUTara Erdmann, LMU
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Catherine Theobald

Catherine Theobald

Sophomore
Chris Boyle

Chris Boyle

Senior
Matt Bejar

Matt Bejar

Fifth Year
Chris Boyle

Chris Boyle

Senior
Brad Kachigan

Brad Kachigan

Redshirt Junior
Tate Kelly

Tate Kelly

Junior
Patrick Richie

Patrick Richie

Junior
Lucas Rothenberger

Lucas Rothenberger

Redshirt Junior
Lauren Bergam

Lauren Bergam

Junior
Brenn Donnelly

Brenn Donnelly

Redshirt Senior
Kayla Lloyd

Kayla Lloyd

Redshirt Junior
Brittany O

Brittany O'Regan

Fifth Year

Players Mentioned

Catherine Theobald

Catherine Theobald

Sophomore
Chris Boyle

Chris Boyle

Senior
Matt Bejar

Matt Bejar

Fifth Year
Chris Boyle

Chris Boyle

Senior
Brad Kachigan

Brad Kachigan

Redshirt Junior
Tate Kelly

Tate Kelly

Junior
Patrick Richie

Patrick Richie

Junior
Lucas Rothenberger

Lucas Rothenberger

Redshirt Junior
Lauren Bergam

Lauren Bergam

Junior
Brenn Donnelly

Brenn Donnelly

Redshirt Senior
Kayla Lloyd

Kayla Lloyd

Redshirt Junior
Brittany O

Brittany O'Regan

Fifth Year