Gonzaga University
Washington Invitational
Harriers Hit New Top-10 Times in Seattle
10/2/2015 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country
SEATTLE -- Running on the same course that will host the NCAA West Regionals, the Gonzaga women's cross country team had a strong showing among elite competition at the Washington Invitational Friday.
Among the 12 teams in the women's field, four were nationally ranked and nine appeared in the regional rankings. The Zags entered the race ninth in the West Region and finished sixth in the second annual invitational on the Jefferson Golf Course. GU pulled off an upset finishing ahead of UCLA, which is sixth in the region. Gonzaga ended the race with two new program top-10 times.
Jessica Mildes led the Bulldogs finishing 20th with a time of 20:25.3. Her time was the second-fastest in program history over a 6,000-meter course. Jordan Thurston was close behind at 20:30.5 in 30th. The sophomore smashed her personal record by 20 seconds and moved to fourth on the program's 6K all-time list.
Shelby Mills and Amelia Evans placed 50th and 53rd. Mills crossed the line at 20:54.9, while Evans' time was 20:59.2. Maggie Jones rounded out the Gonzaga scoring with a time of 21:03.9 in 56th place.
The GU men also clashed with some of the best in the west. The men's field included six nationally-ranked programs and nine that are regionally-ranked. Just like the women, the Zags ended with several new marks on the program's all-time list.
Troy Fraley once again led the Zag pack in 20th. The junior finished the 8,000-meter course at 23:39.3, just seven seconds off of the school record. His time is now second on the program's all-time list. Kyle Branch ran only the fourth sub-24 minute time in program history at 23:57.5. He placed 37th in the race. Matthew Crichlow continues to move up the all-time 8K list. The Edmonds, Wash. native moved ahead of Tate Kelly and into the top five in program history with a time of 24:04.9 (44th).
Newcomer Vince Hamilton is now seventh on the all-time list. His time of 24:13.5 placed 57th Friday. Freshman Scott Kopczynski capped off the Gonzaga scoring with another new program mark. He ran the eighth-fastest time in program history at 24:14.2 (59th).
The No. 5 Oregon women won the team title with 36 points. The Ducks' five point-scorers all finished in the top 15. No. 15 Washington enjoyed its home meet by upsetting No. 4 Stanford for second place with 59 points, one point ahead of the Cardinal. Fellow West Coast Conference member, No. 23 BYU, placed fourth with 77 points. Air Force was fifth with 143 points, ahead of Gonzaga's 200.
On the men's side, No. 5 Oregon completed the Duck sweep. UO finished with 52 points. Second-ranked Stanford had 69 points, one point in front of No. 12 BYU. No. 11 UCLA and Air Force rounded out the top five. Gonzaga finished with 205 points.
Stanford's Aisling Cuffe edged out Oregon's Alli Cash for the women's individual title. Cuffe crossed the line at 19:41.0, while Cash's time was 19:44.6. Edward Cheserek of Oregon finished five seconds ahead of the field at 23:15.4.
The Bulldogs have a two-week break before traveling to Lewiston, Idaho, for the Inland Empire Challenge. The meet, hosted by Lewis-Clark State College, will be run at the Lewiston Orchards. The women's race is scheduled for a 10:30 a.m. start on Oct. 17.
