COLFAX, Wash. – In his second collegiate race, Gonzaga's James Mwaura coasted to a first place finish at the Cougar Classic Friday. The Zag men took the team title at the race hosted by Washington State University on the Colfax Golf Course.
 
Mwaura's 23:55 finish over the 8,000-meter course was the fourth-fastest in program history. The freshman has now placed first in both of his first two collegiate races. Andrew Gardner was second place Friday, with a time of 24:09. Mwaura, a Tacoma, Wash. native, has led the GU men to back-to-back first place team finishes in the season's first two events.
 
The Gonzaga men dominated the field placing their top six runners in the Top 10, with the seventh finishing 12^th. Kyle Thompson closed hard and placed third with a time of 24:17. Redshirt freshman Yacine Guermali remained near the front for the entirety of the race and came in fourth at 24:19. Thompson's time ranks 12^th on the GU all-time list, while Guermali's finish is 14^th.
 
Ciaran O'Leary and Andrew Clusserath were sixth and seventh at 24:31. Both are now in the Top 20 in GU history at 19^th and 20^th. Kellen Manley came ninth place, crossing the line at 24:32.
 
Lauren Haas paced the Gonzaga women to a fourth place team finish. She placed 16^th at 22:11. Teammate Jordan McPhee was right behind in 17^th with a time of 22:12. Lauren Bourgeois (22:25) and Monica Ripple (22:28) were 22^nd and 23^rd.
 
Katherine Gustafson finished at 22:31 in 25^th place, while Kelly Gilbert (22:44) and Claire Gillett (22:59) came in 29^th and 35^th.
 
The Portland State women (34) edged out Washington State (44) and Idaho (53) for the team title. Washington State's Emma Jenkins took the individual title at 20:53. Portland State's Sarah Medved was second with a time of 21:01.
 
The Bulldogs travel to Missoula, Mont., next for the Montana Invitational on Sept. 28.