NCAA Regional Information and Course Map
FAIRBANKS, Alaska - The Alaska Nanooks men's and women's cross country teams are primed to hit the trials in Spokane, Wash. Saturday morning when they participate in the NCAA West Region Championships at the Plantes Ferry Sports Complex. The women's six kilometer race begins at 10:30 a.m., with the men's 10K following at 11:30 a.m. PST.
The Alaska women are ranked fifth in the West Region heading into Saturday's six kilometer race, are looking to become the first Nanook team to qualify for the NCAA Championships later this month. After a fourth place finish at the Great Northwest Athletic Conference championships in Yakima, Wash. two weeks ago, the confidence and belief that they can achieve their goal is high.
"Our women are running about where I though they could and they can still do better," said assistant coach Matt Dunlap, who will accompany the Nanooks at the regional races this weekend. "Being just 10 points behind Western Washington, a team that's been nationally ranked all year, really opened the door for them. Getting 10 points in a big race is nothing so they are excited and know what they need to do."
Weather could prove a positive contributing factor in Alaska's effort Saturday as the forecast is calling for snow and cooler temperatures in Spokane.
"Last time we were there it was 85 and 95 degrees (during the women's and men's races, respectively)," Dunlap said. "A little bit cooler temperatures could help us but it's not a limiting factor. We have strong talented people who are used to going to new places (outside of Fairbanks and Alaska) and running well."
At the conference meet, senior
Theresia Schnurr led the squad and landed a top-10 finish good for All-Conference honors. The Nanooks next three finishers all landed spots in the top-25 as senior
Crystal Pitney was 14th and junior
Heather Edic was 20th and junior Raphaela Seiber was 23rd. Senior
Jana Benedix rounded out the scoring runners in 34th and has shown steady improvement over the course of the season.
"Matt did a great job at conference getting the team in the right frame of mind to do well," Alaska's head coach
Scott Jerome said. "Matt has had his finger on the pulse and has a real clear picture of what needs to happen."
"He has been able to communicate that effectively, especially to the women, and has also gotten them to believe in it; I think he's done a great job of getting the women to buy into what's possible. I don't want them to go in tight and worried about it but we've never had a team qualify for nationals. This is big stuff."
The McPhetres sisters, Alyson and Kryston, will also be competing for the Nanooks. While Alyson was the Nanooks top perormer at the 2010 NCAA regional after taking 65th overall on the 6K course, this will be Kryston's first trip to the regional event. Benedix was the Nanooks only other woman to participate in last year's regional.
For the men, they are looking to move up from last year's 17th place finish and beat out some of their conference and region foes after finishing last at the GNAC meet two weeks ago.
"I think the guys can run three or four places higher than they did (at regionals last year) and take the right steps in the right direction," said Dulap. "The guys have put in a lot of work ever since they traveled last; they've worked really hard and I'm excited to see what they can do."
Representing Alaska's men this weekend are Lars Arenson,
Andrew Arnold,
Tux Seims,
Kenneth Brewer,
Wyatt Mayo, Joe Dillon and
Nolin Ainsworth. Arnold, Seims and Mayo are making their second appearances at the regional event. Seims was 86th a year ago, while Arnold was 101st and Mayo was 124th.
Results for the races will be posted on alaskananooks.com and gnacsports.com on Saturday afternoon.
