PLU Men Seventh, Women Eighth at NWC Championships

Women's Results
Men's Results

WALLA WALLA, Wash. - Pacific Lutheran wrapped up its 2008 cross country season as the men finished seventh and the women placed eighth at the Northwest Conference Championships held Saturday at Veteran's Memorial Golf Course.

With four runners finishing in the top 10, Whitworth ended the seven-year rule of Willamette in the men's competition. Maddie Coffman and Jena Winger placing first and second as the Willamette women ran away to their seventh consecutive conference title.

Puget Sound's Francis Reynolds took the men's individual title, scampering over the 8,000 meters in 24:35.24 to claim top honors by more than 50 seconds. Whitworth flashed impressive depth, led by Nick Gallagher (second) and Dusty Caseria (fourth), to grab its first NWC men's cross country title since 1972. Aaron Jenkins (sixth) and Emmanuel Bofa (10th) also cracked the top 10 for the Pirates.

Whitworth finished with 43 points followed by Willamette with 51. Rounding out the team scoring were Lewis & Clark 71, Linfield 104, Puget Sound 149, Whitman 153, Pacific Lutheran 189, George Fox 242 and Pacific 245.

As he has throughout the entire season, John Phillips led the Lutes, placing 15th in a time of 25:55.28. Rounding out the PLU top five were Sean Andrascik, 37th in 27:19.30, Alex Martin, 48th in 27:43.00, Justin Barth, 55th in 28:10.27, and Austin Martin, 60th in 28:45.48.

On the women's side of the ledger, Willamette scored 42 points, followed by Whitman and Whitworth, both with 77. Rounding out the scoring were Lewis & Clark 100, Linfield 131, Puget Sound 142, Pacific 170 and PLU 202. George Fox did not field a complete team.

Coffman won the 6000-meter race in a time of 21:31.27. Pacific Lutheran's top finisher was Erica Johnson, who finished 34th in a time of 23:52.67. Rounding out the top five were Erika Dornfeld, 41st in 23:59.95, Lexie Miller, 44th in 24:12.66, Corrine Gogert, 53rd in 24:51.20, and Amanda Clancy, 54th in 24:55.46.

- PLU -