BELLINGHAM, Wash. (Oct. 22) – Fueled by four top-10 finishes, the UAA men’s cross country team claimed the team title at today the 2005 Great Northwest Athletic Conference championships here at Lake Padden Park, earning its second league title in four years.
The Seawolf women, who placed three runners in the top 10, nearly made it a sweep of both team events, finishing conference runner-up for the second time in three seasons.
UAA’s men and women earned seven All-Conference honors overall, the most the program has ever produced in a single-season.
The men, currently ranked 20th nationally, scored 39 points to easily outdistance second-place Western Washington (88) and third-place Humboldt State (91). The women recorded 71 points, finishing 17 behind No. 13 Seattle Pacific (54), who earned their second consecutive championship.
Freshman David Kiplagat paced UAA’s men with a second-place effort, running to a time of 25:57 on the 8K course. Kiplagat, who won three races during the regular season, finished 41 seconds shy of men’s individual champ Casey Moriarty of Seattle (25:16).
Kiplagat was named the GNAC Men's Freshman of the Year at the conclusion of the race.
Palmer’s Aaron Dickson, who has finished 19th at the last two league meets, placed a career-high fifth overall in 26:29. Senior Leif Olson edged teammate Drew Dickson by two seconds placing a meet-best ninth, clocking a time of 26:36. Dickson, who hadn’t finished higher than 22nd in two races at GNACs, claimed 10th (26:38).
Freshman Mick Boyle placed a strong 13th (26:47) in his championship debut, rounding out the scorers for the Seawolves.
Kiplagat, Olson and both Dickson’s all earned GNAC All-Conference accolades for the first time in their careers.
The conference title was the third overall for the men’s program, who also claimed championships in 1997 (Pac West Conference) and 2002 (GNAC). UAA is the first men’s team in the GNAC to win two league championships.
Junior Mandy Kaempf powered the Seawolf women with a third-place outing, finishing the 6K course with a mark of 22:36. Keampf’s effort was her best in three conference meets. Her time placed her four seconds behind second-place finisher Meredith Crane of Seattle Pacific (22:32) and 21 seconds behind women’s champion Pavla Havlova of Alaska Fairbanks (22:15).
Senior Stacy Edwards placed ninth in her final conference meet (23:13), while freshman Laura Carr finished a solid 10th (23:22) in her first.
Edwards’ top-10 showing earned her the fourth GNAC All-Conference honor of her career. Kaempf garnered her third consecutive All-Conference award, while Carr picked up her first.
The Seawolf women’s No. 4 and No. 5 finishers were sophomore Davya Baker (17th, 23:47) and junior Danielle Pratt (34th, 24:47).
Also competing for UAA’s men but not scoring were junior Benjamin Sonntag (18th), sophomore Stig Yngve (35th), freshman Auston Ellis (47th) and freshman Cornelious Sigei (70th). Other women’s finishers were junior Mary Krusen (36th), sophomore Kaley Strachan (40th), sophomore Brittany Greer (42nd) and junior Mary Pearce (59th).
UAA’s men and women will next compete at the NCAA West Region Championships Nov. 6 at Chino, Calif. The West Regional will determine which teams and individuals will advance to the NCAA Championships Nov. 18, also in Chino.
For more information visit: www.goseawolves.com
