Cross Country - Seattle Pacific University Athletics
Cross Country Seattle Pacific University
Mark Moschetti, Assistant SID ● (206) 281-2772 ● [email protected] ● Fax: (206) 281-2266
Postseason is here - and it starts at GNAC Falcon women figure to be in mix for high finish; men aim to exceed expectations
Seattle Pacific at GNAC Championships Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016 Lake Padden Park / Bellingham, Wash. Men’s 8K, 10:00 a.m. Women’s 6K, 11:00 a.m. Live streaming (finish, awards): https://www.periscope.tv/GNACsports Live updates on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GNACsports
SEATTLE – For the first few weeks of the season, it’s all about potential. From here on out, the only thing that matters is performance. The Seattle Pacific Falcons will have that in mind on Saturday morning, when they begin postseason racing at the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Cross Country Championships. IT CAN’T RAIN THAT HARD AGAIN … CAN IT? Actually, if the forecast holds true, it won’t rain at all on Saturday, which would make running and watching a lot more pleasant than it was at the Classic two weeks ago. The course likely will be wet, as showers are in Friday’s forecast. Saturday’s outlook is for variable clouds, with occasional sun. Temperatures will be coming off of overnight lows in the mid 40s, and will be working their way toward the mid- to upper-50s, which should put them right near 50 at race time.
The men will be first up at Lake Padden Park in Bellingham, taking off from the starting line for their 8-kilometer run at 10:00 a.m. The women will have their 6-kilometer race at 11:00 a.m. MAKING THE WEST REGIONAL CUT This is the first of three postseason meets on the calendar. The next one is the NCAA Division II West Regionals, set for two Saturdays from now, Nov. 5, at Amenda Park in Billings, Mont. Officially, there are no qualifying standard for regionals. Any team or individual wishing to enter can do so. However, each school is allowed to set its own qualifying standards. For the Falcons, getting to Montana will take a top-5 team finish. Individually, any SPU runner in the top 20 will earn the right to advance.
SO WHAT’S THE STORY THIS WEEK? -- The SPU women will be looking to improve upon last year’s GNAC meet, which also took place at Padden. The Falcons were fifth with 114 points, although they were just two points behind Simon Fraser. -- Seattle Pacific’s men were ninth with 252 points, beating out Saint Martin’s (298) and Concordia (also 298). -- Of the 10 Falcon women who will run on Saturday, five were in last year’s GNACs. The top returners from that group are Mary Charleson (20th), now a junior, and Hannah Calvert (21st), now a senior. -- SPU returns five of its eight men who competed in the 2015 meet. Junior Ben Halladay (31st) was 18 places ahead of his nearest teammate in that race. -- Seattle Pacific has won the women’s title five times. That included a stretch of four straight from 2005-08, the last of those being its most recent crown. -- SPU’s men ran to the championship in 2004. -- Josie Lavin (2003), Karen Dickson (2004), and Jessica Pixler (2006-09) have won individual titles. The 2004 men’s title team was led by individual winner Tim LeCount.
October 21, 2016
GENERAL INFORMATION Institution: Seattle Pacific University Address: 3307 Third Ave. W., Seattle, WA 98119 Enrollment: 4,120 Nickname: Falcons Colors: Maroon & White Affiliation: NCAA Division II Conference: Great Northwest Athletic Conference President: Dr. Daniel J. Martin (S. Nazarene) Athletic Director.: Jackson Stava E-mail: [email protected] Athletic Department office: 206-281-2085 Fax: 206-281-2266 Athletic Dept. Web Site: www.spufalcons.com Sports Info. Director: Dan Lepse (206-281-2741; [email protected]) X-country SID: Mark Moschetti (206-281-2772, [email protected])
COACHING STAFF Head Coach: Karl Lerum, 4th year Pacific Lutheran ‘98 Office: (206) 281-2897 E-mail: [email protected] Assistant Coaches: Audra Smith, 4th year Chris Reed, 3rd year
2016 SCHEDULE Sept. 10 Humboldt State Invitational M: 6th / 7 teams W: 2nd / 10 teams Sept. 24 Saint Martin’s Invitational M: 8th / 13 teams W: 1st / 11 teams Oct. 8 WWU Classic (Lk. Padden / Bellingham) M: 13th / 17 teams W: 5th / 16 teams. Oct. 22 GNAC (Lk. Padden / Bellingham) M: 10:00 a.m. W: 11:00 a.m. Nov. 5 NCAA West Regionals (Billings, Mont.) M: 10:00 a.m. W: 11:15 a.m. Nov. 19 NCAA D2 Championships (Saint Leo, Fla..) M: 5:30 a.m. W: 6:45 a.m.
GNAC SCOUTING REPORT MEN’S PREVIEW
WOMEN’S PREVIEW Sometimes, the favorites don’t win. That certainly was true a couple years ago in Oregon when Simon Fraser edged Alaska Anchorage by one point, ending the Seawolves’ string of five straight titles. But Anchorage was back on top convincingly again in 2015. And, based on its performance at Bellingham two weeks ago at Lake Padden, this is the team to beat. The Seawolves won the WWU Classic with 76 points, 25 fewer than Simon Fraser. Even so, this is setting up to be one of the more intriguing GNACs – and the Falcons have every capability of being in the mix, along with UAA, Simon Fraser, and host Western Washington. Seattle Pacific very possibly could have three runners in the top 20, including a pair in the top10. The latter would include senior Sarah Macdonald, who had one of her best races ever at the WWU Classic by finish fourth overall and second among GNAC runners. (Only Anchorage’s Caroline Kurgat, in second, was ahead of her.) Mary Charleson was the second Falcon to finish at the Classic, 11th overall. She has been the front runner most of the year, including the win at Humboldt State. She and Macdonald could get SPU off to a low-scoring start. The other top-20 candidate is Hannah Calvert, who is enjoying an outstanding senior season. She has been a solid No. 3 in every meet, was 24th at the Classic. Her time of 22:42 was actually 11 seconds faster than the 22:53 she ran to place 21st in last year’s conference meet at Lake Padden. The key for the Falcons will be what happens in back of Calvert. At least one more in the top 25 and a final scorer in the top 30 could give SPU a serious chance of reeling in Simon Fraser. But even that is far from a sure thing, as the Clan’s five scorers, led by Rebecca Bassett, ran extremely well in the Classic. Western Washington can’t be counted out, either. The host Vikings didn’t have their best meet two weeks ago, so will have plenty of motivation for a much better performance this time. As always, packing together will be crucial. The Nos. 1 to 5 WWU Classic spreads were 1:28 for Anchorage, 53 seconds for Simon Fraser, 1:37 for SPU, and 57 seconds for Western Washington. The first three Falcons were ahead of their respective Simon counterparts, but Nos. 4 and 5 from the Clan were both in front of Seattle Pacific’s No. 4.
For the first time in this season, the Falcons figure to have a full complement of seven competitors, as one missed the first two meets while completing a summer internship in Indiana, and another has been out for the last two with an injury. From a team standpoint, SPU will be seeking to beat its predicted 10th place finish in the GNAC preseason poll. Last year, the Falcons were ninth. One runner with plenty at state is junior Ben Halladay. He is having by far his best season as a collegian, with three straight strong races. Halladay was 19th overall (among 83 finishers) at the Humboldt State Invitational, ninth (out of 110) at Saint Martin’s, and 35th (of 185) at Western Washington. The WWU race was 10 kilometers, and Halladay’s time of 32:53 was a personal best by 85 seconds faster for that distance on the Lake Padden course. He finished last year’s 8-kilometer conference race in 26:36.70 for 31st place. If Halladay can finish in the top 20 on Saturday, he would earn a trip to regionals. The Falcons have been consistent, steady efforts from freshman Danny Provo, sophomore Jesse Phan, and senior Joey Walker, and will be looking for more of the same. Provo has been No. 2 behind Halladay in all three regular-season meets. Phan has moved steadily up the pack, running No. 5 for SPU at Humboldt, No. 4 at Saint Martin’s, then No. 3 at Western Washington. Walker was the No. 3 guy at Humboldt and Saint Martin’s, and No. 4 at WWU. Alaska Anchorage has won six titles in a row, and is heavily favored to make it seven. They won the season-opening Notre Dame de Namur Argo Invite, were second at Sundodger, and second at the WWU Classic. The Seawolves are ranked No. 9 nationally this week. The individual race could be wide open. Henry Cheseto of Anchorage is the defending champion, but was just 11th (and No. 3 for the Seawolves) on Oct. 8 at Lake Padden. David Ribich of Western Oregon is a strong contender for the title, along with Western Washington’s Isaac Derline (winner of the Classic), and UAA’s Edwin Kangogo and Michel Ramirez.
With Joyce Chelimo back in action at the Classic, she and teammate Kurgat will be regarded as the individual favorites. Chelimo and Kurgat went 1-2 last year in 21:00 and 21:08. MOST RECENT SPU TOP 7 – WOMEN Oct. 8, 2016 at Western Washington Classic 6 kilometers at Lake Padden Park / Bellingham, Wash.
MOST RECENT SPU TOP 7 – MEN Oct. 8, 2016 at Western Washington Classic 10 kilometers at Lake Padden Park / Bellingham, Wash.
Seattle Pacific 5th / 16 teams, 122 points
Seattle Pacific 13th / 17 teams, 341 points
Runner SPU place Overall Sarah Macdonald 1 4 Mary Charleson 2 11 Hannah Calvert 3 24 Katherine Walter 4 43 Chynna Phan 5 47 Alyssa Foote 6 61 Kate Lilly 7 63
Time 21:46.0 22:05.9 22:42.4 23:21.4 23:23.6 23:42.2 23:48.9
Runner SPU place Overall Ben Halladay 1 35 Danny Provo 2 92 Jesse Phan 3 112 Joey Walker 4 115 Clark Sterling 5 136 David McLeod 6 137 SPU competed just 6 runners.
Time 32:53.0 34:33.4 34:58.4 35:03.4 36:01.7 36:05.5
FALCON FODDER ASSISTANT COACH CHRIS REED SAYS …
MIX AND MATCH IN THE PACK
(On the women’s meet) “Anything is possible. There’s a lot of talent on our team as well as on some of the other teams in the conference. That’s the beauty of racing – they’re won or lost on the course, not on paper. If we run to our full capability, anything is possible.”
For the Seattle Pacific women, the front three have been the front three all season: junior Mary Charleson, and seniors Sarah Macdonald and Hannah Calvert.
(On the performance two weeks ago at Lake Padden) “The result wasn’t as good as it could have been, but I’m really encouraged by the way some of our people ran. If they’re able to run like that again, and if some of the others are able to step up the way they’re capable of, it gives us a lot of hope.” (On the performances of the three Falcon front runners) “Sarah (Macdonald) has been good in every single race. Hannah (Calvert) has been good in every race, Mary (Charleson) has been good. Having those three not only as far up as they are, but also as reliable and consistent as they are sets the tone for the rest of the team.” (On the men’s race) “The guys were picked to finish 10th. When we ran at Saint Martin’s (on Sept. 24), we lost to the one team that was ranked behind us. The guys responded really well to that. Two weeks later, they beat Saint Martin’s and came within 10 points of beating Fairbanks. It showed they’re capable of exceeding their preseason prediction. It’s up to those guys to have a good day and a lot of pride and do the best they can.”
But behind them, things have been in flux every week. Of the other seven runners on the team, six have been in the top 7 at least once: Sophie Carroll (No. 7 at Humboldt), Alyssa Foote (7 at Saint Martin’s; 6 at WWU), Hailey Kettel (6 at Humboldt and Saint Martin’s), Kate Lilly (all three meets), Chynna Phan (all three meets), and Katherine Walter (4 at WWU). Within that group, three have scored in the top 5: Phan (all three), Lilly (Humboldt and Saint Martin’s), and Walter (WWU). FOR PHANS, IT’S JUST A BUNCH OF 800s ALL AT ONCE SPU junior Chynna Phan and sophomore brother Jesse will never call a cross country race their ideal distance – 6,000 meters for Chynna in women’s race; 8,000 meters for Jesse in the men’s races (plus a 10K for him two weeks ago at Western Washington). Both are excellent 800-meter runners – in fact, Chynna ran that distance at last year’s NCAA indoor championships, and that’ll typically be their first choice. But starting to enjoy to going farther. “I’m liking it. It’s not what I would prefer to do over the 800,” said Jesse, who ran No. 3 for the Falcon men at WWU on Oct. 8. “But it’s definitely a fun experience. I like running on the trails and things like that.”
FASTEST OF THE FROSH? COULD BE A FALCON Based on their performances in the WWU Classic at Lake Padden on Oct. 8, it’s possible an SPU runner or two will be in contention for the GNAC Freshman of the Year award, which goes to the highest-placing member of that class in the conference meet.
Added Chynna, “The 800 is probably my favorite. But I have come to love cross country a lot more than I did when I started.”
With eight of the 11 conference schools on the course that day, Katherine Walter was the highest-placing GNAC freshman, taking 43rd in 23:21.4. Closest to her was Western Washington’s Peyton Shinnick, finishing 46th in 23:23.5.
MAROON RUNS IN THE FAMILY
Other GNAC frosh in the sub-24s on that rainy, windy Saturday were SPU’s Alyssa Foote (61st in 23:42), and Kate Lilly (63rd in 23:48), along with Western’s Sophia Galvez (52nd in 23:34), Talia Dreicer (54th in 23:38) and Waverly Shreffler (56th in 23:39), Central Washington’s Delaney Clem (59th in 23:40), and Alaska Anchorage’s Jordyn Block (67th in 23:52).
Walter, a graduate of Mountlake Terrace High School just north of Seattle, is the sixth member of her family to attend the school. She was preceded by mom Gillian, two aunts, an uncle, and a cousin.
Among the three schools not in Bellingham that day – Montana State Billings, Northwest Nazarene, and Western Oregon – none has a freshman who has broken 24 minutes for a 6K race.
That freshmen Katherine Walter and Danny Provo both decided to attend Seattle Pacific probably shouldn’t come as a surprise.
Provo, from Missoula, Mont., follows in the footsteps of his mom, who graduated from SPU in 1989. ON THE HONOR ROLL
The Falcons have had four Freshmen of the Year: Karin Rohde (2004), Mary Moriarty (2005), Jessica Pixler (2006), and Natalie Plunkett (2008).
Mary Charleson was named the GNAC women’s Athlete of the Week for cross country on Sept. 12 following her victory at the Humboldt State Invitational two days earlier. It was the first conference award for Charleson, and the only one for the Falcons this fall.
POLLING PLACE
UP NEXT
The Falcon women are still listed among the top teams in NCAA Division II as they head to Bellingham. SPU is No. 25 in this week’s USTFCCCA national rankings. They have been as high as No. 18 this season. Adams State of Colorado is a unanimous No. 1. SPU is one of seven West Region teams in the top 25.
The NCAA D2 II West Regionals are set for Saturday, Nov. 5, at Amend Park in Billings. The 10-kilometer men’s race begins at 9:00 a.m. Pacific time, followed by the 6K women’s race at 10:15. This meet will decide who gets tickets to Saint Leo, Fla., for the D2 nationals on Nov. 19. The top five men’s teams and top six women’s teams in Billings will qualify.
In the West Region rankings, the women are No. 7. Cal Baptist has replaced Chico State in the top spot, with the Wildcats currently No. 2.
In addition, the top three finishers who are not on one of the qualifying teams, or anyone finishing in the top 5 who are not on a qualifying team will advance as individuals.
RETRACING THEIR STEPS: 2016 Humboldt State Invitational
Saint Martin’s Invitational
Western Washington Classic
Mary Charleson made a decisive surge in the final 100 meters and won the Humboldt State Invitational. Charleson completed the 6-kilometer looping, fog-shrouded course through the oceanside Patrick’s Point State Park in 21 minutes, 8.21 seconds. She and senior teammate Sarah Macdonald, who came through in 21:14.88, put together a 1-3 finish that gave the Falcons second place in the standings behind perennial West Region powerhouse Chico State. The win was the first for Charleson in a college race. It also was her personalbest time on a 6-kilometer course, easily beating the 21:48 she posted in last year’s NCAA Division II West Regionals. The Wildcats, fourth at last year’s NCAA Division II Championships, finished with 40 points. SPU was next with 57.. Ben Halladay ran his fastest-ever 8-kilomter race, clocking 25 minutes, 34.74 seconds to finish 19th among 83 runners in the men’s race and lead the Falcons to sixth place with 197 points. A junior, Halladay had never broken 26 minutes for 8K
Mary Charleson, Sarah Macdonald, and Hannah Calvert went 2-3-4, and SPU grabbed eight of the top 10 spots overall to win the Saint Martin’s Invitational.
Sarah Macdonald and Ben Halladay insisted it wasn’t all that bad running in some of the wettest, windiest cross country conditions imaginable. Macdonald turned the women’s 6-kilometer into one of the best performances of her career, and Halladay came through with a substantial personal-best time in the men’s 10K on an otherwise miserable morning in the Western Washington Classic.
The Falcons, with their top 5 separated by just 63 seconds, finished with 22 points. This was the second straight time the SPU women have won the team title in Lacey and the sixth time overall. They also won in 2013, which was their most recent appearance in the meet. The only runner to finish ahead of SPU junior Charleson was Saint Martin’s senior Shannon Porter. Competing on her home course, Porter laid off the pace early, then made her move about a mile into it and completed the 5 kilometers in 17 minutes, 50.10 seconds. Charleson crossed in 18:01.70. Then came seniors Macdonald in 18:16.50, and Calvert in 18:34.70. Ben Halladay delivered another solid performance, coming home ninth overall, leading the Falcon men to eighth place in the team standings. Halladay clocked 26:34.70, and the Falcons checked in with 171 points
With eight of the 11 Great Northwest Athletic Conference schools and a handful of top British Columbia teams on the course, Macdonald came across the finish line in fourth place, leading the Falcons to fifth in the team standings with 122 points. Macdonald, with a PR of 21:46beat every runner from the conference except for Alaska Anchorage’s Caroline Kurgat, who was second in 21:26.5. Halladay went out with the lead pack early, and never backed down. He was in the upper 20s to mid 30s for most of the 10 kilometers. His 32:53 was 85 seconds faster than the 34:18 he ran at the Classic as a freshman in 2014.
RETRACING THEIR STEPS: 2015 GNAC 6 kilometers at Lake Padden Park / Bellingham, Wash.
8 kilometers at Lake Padden Park / Bellingham, Wash.
Seattle Pacific 5th / 11 teams, 114 points
Seattle Pacific 9th / 11 teams, 252 points
Runner SPU place Overall Anna Patti 1 4 Mary Charleson 2 20 Hannah Calvert 3 21 Jessica Rawlins 4 35 Lynelle Decker 5 36 Sarah Macdonald 6 37 Chynna Phan 7 39
Runner SPU place Overall Ben Halladay 1 31 Adam Avischious 2 49 Brian Comer 3 63 Joseph Walker 4 67 Brysten James 5 69 David McLeod 6 71 Clark Sterling 7 79
Time 21:42.5 22:53.0 22:53.1 23:09.6 23:11.3 23:11.7 23:13.6
Time 26:36.7 27:00.7 27:27.4 27:39.3 27:44.3 27:50.1 28:29.8
2016 Seattle Pacific Women’s Cross Country Roster Name Hannah Calvert Sophie Carroll Mary Charleson Alyssa Foote Hailey Kettel Kate Lilly Sarah Macdonald Sedona McNerney Chynna Phan Katherine Walter Pronunciation guide Chynna Phann
Yr. Sr Jr Jr Fr Jr Fr Sr Fr Jr Fr
Exp. 3V 2V 2V HS 2V HS 3V HS 2V HS
Hometown (HS/Last college) Enumclaw, WA (Enumclaw) Bremerton, WA (Central Kitsap) Mill Creek, WA (Jackson) Beaverton, OR (Aloha) Edmonds, WA (Edmonds-Woodway) Renton, WA (Hazen) Tucson, AZ (Pusch Ridge Christian) Fair Oaks, CA (Bella Vista) Bellingham, WA (Mt. Baker) Brier, WA (Mountlake Terrace)
China FAWN
2016 Seattle Pacific Men’s Cross Country Roster Name Yr. Exp. Ben Halladay Jr 2V Brysten James Jr 1V David McLeod Sr 1V Jesse Phan So HS Danny Provo Fr HS Clark Sterling Jr 2V Joey Walker Sr 1V Head coach: Karl Lerum Assistant coaches: Audra Smith, Chris Pronunciation guide Ben Halladay Brysten James Jesse Phan
HAL-a-day BRISS-ten FAWN
Karl Lerum Audra Smith
LEER-um AH-druh
Hometown (HS/Last College) Mukilteo, WA (Kamiak) Warsaw, IN (Warsaw Community HS) Des Moines, WA (Mount Rainier / W. Oregon) Bellingham, WA (Mt. Baker) Missoula, MT (Hellgate) Mill Creek, WA (Jackson) Auburn, WA (Jefferson / Highline CC) Reed
WOMEN NATIONAL (Oct. 11) 1. Adams State (Colo.) 2. Grand Valley St. (Mich.) 3. Univ. of Mary (S.D.) 4. Western State (Colo.) 5. Minnesota Duluth 6. Cedarville (Ohio) 7. Southern Indiana 8. Cal Baptist 9. Chico State 10. Northern Michigan 14. Alaska Anchorage 16. Point Loma Nazarene T19. Simon Fraser 24. UC San Diego 25. Seattle Pacific MEN NATIONAL (Oct. 11) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5 6. 7. 6. 9. 10.
Adams State Grand Valley St. (Mich.) Colorado Mines Chico State Cal Poly Pomona Western State (Colo.) Augustana (S.D.) Colorado State-Pueblo Alaska Anchorage Southern Indiana
12. UC San Diego T17. Cal Baptist 24. Academy of Art WOMEN WEST RGN. (Oct. 10) 1. Cal Baptist 2. Chico State 3. Alaska Anchorage 4. Point Loma Nazarene 5. Simon Fraser 6. UC San Diego 7. Seattle Pacific 8. Western Washington 9. Humboldt State 10. Cal Poly Pomona
MEN
WOMEN
School (1st place) Points
School (1st place) Points
1. Alaska Anchorage (11) 2. Simon Fraser 3. Western Washington 4. Western Oregon 5. Northwest Nazarene 6. Montana State Billings 7. Central Washington 8. Concordia (Ore.) 9. Alaska Fairbanks 10. Seattle Pacific 10. Saint Martin’s
121 106 101 88 64 61 60 38 35 28 24
PRESEASON RANKINGS
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.
Alaska Anchorage (9) W. Washington (2) Simon Fraser Seattle Pacific Central Washington Western Oregon Condordia Northwest Nazar Saint Martin’s Alaska Fairbanks Montana St. Billings
117 107 90 88 79 63 46 45 36 25 21
MEN WEST RGN. (Oct. 10) 1. Chico State 2. Cal Poly Pomona 3. Alaska Anchorage 4. UC San Diego 5. Cal Baptist 6. Academy of Art 7. Simon Fraser 6. Western Washington 9. San Francisco State 10. Western Oregon Next rankings: Oct. 24-25
HEAD COACH / PROGRAM DIRECTOR KARL LERUM Having successfully continued a long-standing tradition of success with Seattle Pacific’s track and field teams, Karl Lerum is now in his fourth year as director of the school’s entire running program, including cross country, having taken on that role in the fall of 2013. Lerum is heading into his 12th year in charge of the SPU track program. In 2015, for the sixth time in school history, and all under his leadership, the Falcon women pulled an indoor-outdoor GNAC team title sweep. They followed that up with a second straight outdoor title in 2016. A few weeks after the season, Lerum was named the 2016 GNAC women’s outdoor Coach of the Year, as well as USTFCCCA West Region women’s outdoor Coach of the Year. The GNAC award was his seventh. He has swept the women’s indoor and outdoor honors five times: 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2015. He also has six West Region women’s indoor Coach of the Year awards and five outdoor honors, giving him 25 conference and region honors altogether between the winter and spring seasons. Of Seattle Pacific’s 10 conference indoor team championships, Lerum has been the man in charge for eight of those. During the 2016 outdoor season, 12 Falcon women posted a total of 17 NCAA provisional qualifying marks. Of those qualifiers, Jahzelle Ambus (400), Lynelle Decker (800, 1500), Geneva Lehnert (high jump), Maliea Luquin (100 hurdles) and Jalen Tims (400 hurdles) made it to nationals, with Decker making All-American in both of her races.
Indoors in 2016, Lerum’s Falcons hit nine NCAA qualifying marks, and ultimately came up big at nationals in Pittsburg, Kan. Decker raced to a silver medal in the 800, and the 4x400 relay team of Tims, Decker, Cheryl Hong, and Ambus bagged a bronze. In addition, the 4,000-meter distance medley relay of Decker, Ambus, Chynna Phan, and Anna Patti gained All-American status by finishing fifth. Ambus and Tims also ran in the 400 meters, and Lehnert got there in the high jump. Lerum stepped up to the Falcons’ coaching helm in October 2005, taking over from Jack Hoyt. He worked as an assistant to Hoyt in 2000, and again in 2003. In between, he spent two years as an assistant coach at Trinity College, an NCAA Division III school in Hartford, Conn. As an athlete at Pacific Lutheran University in nearby Tacoma, Lerum made his mark in two sports. On the football field, he set – and still owns – the school career records for receptions and receiving yards. On the track, Lerum has the Lutes record in the 400 meters and is among the school’s top 10 in the decathlon, 110 hurdles, long jump, 100 meters, and javelin. He was an All-American in the decathlon, finishing third at the NAIA nationals in 1996 and second in ‘97 and ‘98. He didn’t stop there. After college, Lerum was on the San Francisco 49ers’ roster for the 1998 and 1999 preseason, and played with the Amsterdam Admirals in NFL Europe. In 2003 and again in 2004, he served as the head coach of the Oslo Vikings football program in Norway. Lerum is a graduate of Franklin Pierce High School in Parkland, south of Tacoma. He has a bachelor’s degree in history from PLU and a master’s in history from Trinity. He and wife Yvonne and son Lucas live in Seattle.
ASSISTANT COACH CHRIS REED Chris Reed is beginning his sixth year as a collegiate coach and his fourth year as an assistant at Seattle Pacific, joining the staff in December 2013. The native of Klamath Falls, Ore., is a 2011 graduate of Western Oregon University, majoring in economics. On the cross country course, he was a two-time All-Great Northwest Athletic Conference selection, finishing seventh as a junior in 2009 and third as a senior in 2010. He also was a two-time NCAA qualifier, earning All-American recognition in 2009. On the track, Reed raced to a pair of All-GNAC honors, taking third in the 5,000 meters as a freshman in 2008, then placing third in the 1,500 as a senior in 2011. He also was fourth in the 5K as a junior and senior. Indoors, he won the 2011 GNAC mile title and anchored the Wolves’ distance medley relay to All-American status later that season. Reed finished his WOU career with five school records: the mile, 5000, and DMR indoors, along with the 5000 and 10,000 outdoors. He ran in five NCAA championship meets (twice in cross country and outdoor track, and once in indoor track). He became an assistant coach at Western Oregon in 2011 prior to joining the Falcons. He was named the West Region Women’s Indoor Assistant Coach of the Year in 2015 by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. He also is the director of the Falcon Running Camp.
ASSISTANT COACH AUDRA SMITH Audra Smith, who started out as a sprinter, became a heptathlete, and now has competed in four marathons, is in her fourth year on the Falcons coaching staff, coming aboard in August 2013.The graduate of Idaho State spent the previous four years before joining the Falcons as a coach at the University of Washington – one year as a multi-events assistant for track, and the past three as a strength and conditioning coach. She now works primarily with SPU’s sprinters, During the 2015-16 school year, the Falcon women won a bronze medal in the 4x400 relay at the NCAA Division II indoor meet, sent two women to the open 400 at indoor nationals and one for the 400 at outdoor nationals. New school records were set in the women’s indoor and outdoor 400, the indoor 200, and the indoor 4x400 relay. Smith starred in the heptathlon at Idaho State, placing second at the Big Sky Conference meet in 2007. She also was a member of the victorious 4x100 relay team, and scored in the 100, 200, 100 hurdles, and javelin as the Bengals won the team championship for the first time in school history. In the winter of 2016, Smith was named the West Region Women’s Indoor Track Assistant Coach of the Year by the USTFCCCA.
2016 WOMEN’S RESULTS CHART
2016 MEN’S RESULTS CHART
Seattle Pacific University Cross Country 2016 Preseason Prospectus General Information
Institution: Seattle Pacific University Address: 3307 Third Avenue West, Seattle, WA 98119 Founded: 1891 Enrollment: 4,175 Nickname: Falcons Colors: Maroon & White Affiliation: NCAA Division II Conference: Great Northwest Athletic Conference President: Dr. Daniel J. Martin (Southern Nazarene) Athletic Dir.: Jackson Stava (Azusa Pacific ‘05) Athletic Department office: 206-281-2085 Fax: 206-281-2266 Athletic Department Web Site: www.spufalcons.com Sports Info Director: Dan Lepse (206-281-2741, [email protected]) Cross country SID: Mark Moschetti (206-281-2772, [email protected])
Cross Country Information
Head Coach: Karl Lerum (4th year; Pacific Lutheran ‘98) Coach’s office: 206-281-2897 E-mail: [email protected] Assistant Coaches: Audra Smith ([email protected]) Chris Reed ([email protected]) Athletic Trainer: Jason Durocher Trainer’s office: 206-281-2768 E-mail: [email protected]
History
First year of women’s cross country: 1976. First year of men’s cross country: 1954. Women’s NCAA appearances: 15 (1983, 86, 90, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 2006, 07, 08, 09, 12, 13, 15). Men’s NCAA appearances: 1 (2004). Women’s best NCAA finish: 2nd (2007). Men’s best NCAA finish: 19th (2004). Women’s AIAW Division II appearances: 3 (1979, 80, 81). Men’s NAIA appearances: 1 (1961). Women’s best AIAW Division II finish: 2nd (1979, 80). Men’s best NAIA finish: 6th (1961). Women’s conference championships: 11 (Pac West 1993, 94, 96, 97, 98, 99; GNAC 2003, 05, 06, 07, 08). Men’s conference championships: 1 (GNAC 2004).
Primary Print Media
Seattle Times (www.seattletimes.com; [email protected]) Sports desk: (206) 464-2276 Fax: (206) 464-3255 Everett Herald (www.heraldnet.com; [email protected]) Sports desk: (425) 339-3470 Fax: (425) 339-3464 Tacoma News Tribune (www.thenewstribune.com; [email protected]) Sports desk: (253) 597-8680 Fax: (253) 597-8360
2016 Schedule
Date Opponent Time Sept. 10 Humboldt State Invite (Trinidad, Calif.) M: 9 a.m. W: 10 a.m. Sept. 24 Saint Martin’s Invitational (Lacey) M: 9:30 W: 10:20 Oct. 8 WWU Classic (Belilngham) M: 10 a.m. W: 11 a.m. Oct. 22 GNAC (Lk. Padden / Bellingham) M: 10 a.m. W: 11 a.m. Nov. 5 NCAA West Regionals (Billings) M 10 a.m. W 11:15 Nov. 19 NCAA Champs. (Saint Leo, Fla.) M: 5:30 a.m. W: 6:45
2015 Review WOMEN:
MEN:
GNAC: 5th (114). West Regionals: 5th (207). NCAA: 15th (398). Best invitational finish (full team): 3rd at Charles Bowles Invite. Rankings (National / West): Preseason: NR / 9. High: 13 / 3. Final: NR / NR. GNAC: 9th (252). West Regionals: 20th (557). NCAA: DNQ. Best invitational finish (full team): 10th at Charles Bowles Invite. Rankings (National / West): Preseason: NR / NR. High: 17 / 5. Final: 20 / 9.
2016 Women’s Preview
Top 7 returning: 4. Top 7 lost: 3. Other letterwinners returning: 1. Other letterwinners lost: 1. Returning Top 7 (4) Yr Hannah Calvert Sr Mary Charleson Jr Sarah Macdonald Sr Chynna Phan Jr
2015 Honors 128th at NCAAs All-West Region, 99th at NCAAs 65th at NCAAs 148th at NCAAs
Other returning letterwinners (1) Hailey Kettel Jr Other returners (1) Sophie Carroll R-So Top 7 / Other letterwinners lost (3 / 1) Top 7: Lynelle Decker, Anna Patti (All-GNAC, All-West Region, 61st at NCAAs), both graduated; Jessica Rawlins (185th at NCAAs), not returning. Other: Kiley Zeitler, graduated. Newcomers (4) Yr Alyssa Foote Fr Kate Lilly Fr Sedona McNerney Fr Katherine Walter Fr
Hometown (last school) Beaverton, OR (Aloha) Renton, WA (Hazen) Fair Oaks, CA (Bella Vista) Brier, WA (Mountlake Terrace)
2016 Men’s Preview
Top 7 returning: 5. Top 7 lost: 2. Other letterwinners returning: 0. Other letterwinners lost: 0 Returning Top 7 (5) Yr Ben Halladay Jr Brysten James Jr David McLeod Sr Clark Sterling Jr Joey Walker Sr
2015 Honors
Other returning letterwinners (0) Other returners (0) Top 7 / Other letterwinners lost (2 / 0) Top 7: Adam Avischious, Brian Comer, both graduated. Newcomers (2) Yr Jesse Phan R-Fr Danny Provo Fr
Hometown (last school) Deming, WA (Mt. Baker) Missoula, MT (Hellgate)
Mark Moschetti, Assistant SID ● (206) 281-2772 ● [email protected] ● Fax: (206) 281-2266
Postseason is here - and it starts at GNAC Falcon women figure to be in mix for high finish; men aim to exceed expectations
Seattle Pacific at GNAC Championships Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016 Lake Padden Park / Bellingham, Wash. Men’s 8K, 10:00 a.m. Women’s 6K, 11:00 a.m. Live streaming (finish, awards): https://www.periscope.tv/GNACsports Live updates on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GNACsports
SEATTLE – For the first few weeks of the season, it’s all about potential. From here on out, the only thing that matters is performance. The Seattle Pacific Falcons will have that in mind on Saturday morning, when they begin postseason racing at the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Cross Country Championships. IT CAN’T RAIN THAT HARD AGAIN … CAN IT? Actually, if the forecast holds true, it won’t rain at all on Saturday, which would make running and watching a lot more pleasant than it was at the Classic two weeks ago. The course likely will be wet, as showers are in Friday’s forecast. Saturday’s outlook is for variable clouds, with occasional sun. Temperatures will be coming off of overnight lows in the mid 40s, and will be working their way toward the mid- to upper-50s, which should put them right near 50 at race time.
The men will be first up at Lake Padden Park in Bellingham, taking off from the starting line for their 8-kilometer run at 10:00 a.m. The women will have their 6-kilometer race at 11:00 a.m. MAKING THE WEST REGIONAL CUT This is the first of three postseason meets on the calendar. The next one is the NCAA Division II West Regionals, set for two Saturdays from now, Nov. 5, at Amenda Park in Billings, Mont. Officially, there are no qualifying standard for regionals. Any team or individual wishing to enter can do so. However, each school is allowed to set its own qualifying standards. For the Falcons, getting to Montana will take a top-5 team finish. Individually, any SPU runner in the top 20 will earn the right to advance.
SO WHAT’S THE STORY THIS WEEK? -- The SPU women will be looking to improve upon last year’s GNAC meet, which also took place at Padden. The Falcons were fifth with 114 points, although they were just two points behind Simon Fraser. -- Seattle Pacific’s men were ninth with 252 points, beating out Saint Martin’s (298) and Concordia (also 298). -- Of the 10 Falcon women who will run on Saturday, five were in last year’s GNACs. The top returners from that group are Mary Charleson (20th), now a junior, and Hannah Calvert (21st), now a senior. -- SPU returns five of its eight men who competed in the 2015 meet. Junior Ben Halladay (31st) was 18 places ahead of his nearest teammate in that race. -- Seattle Pacific has won the women’s title five times. That included a stretch of four straight from 2005-08, the last of those being its most recent crown. -- SPU’s men ran to the championship in 2004. -- Josie Lavin (2003), Karen Dickson (2004), and Jessica Pixler (2006-09) have won individual titles. The 2004 men’s title team was led by individual winner Tim LeCount.
October 21, 2016
GENERAL INFORMATION Institution: Seattle Pacific University Address: 3307 Third Ave. W., Seattle, WA 98119 Enrollment: 4,120 Nickname: Falcons Colors: Maroon & White Affiliation: NCAA Division II Conference: Great Northwest Athletic Conference President: Dr. Daniel J. Martin (S. Nazarene) Athletic Director.: Jackson Stava E-mail: [email protected] Athletic Department office: 206-281-2085 Fax: 206-281-2266 Athletic Dept. Web Site: www.spufalcons.com Sports Info. Director: Dan Lepse (206-281-2741; [email protected]) X-country SID: Mark Moschetti (206-281-2772, [email protected])
COACHING STAFF Head Coach: Karl Lerum, 4th year Pacific Lutheran ‘98 Office: (206) 281-2897 E-mail: [email protected] Assistant Coaches: Audra Smith, 4th year Chris Reed, 3rd year
2016 SCHEDULE Sept. 10 Humboldt State Invitational M: 6th / 7 teams W: 2nd / 10 teams Sept. 24 Saint Martin’s Invitational M: 8th / 13 teams W: 1st / 11 teams Oct. 8 WWU Classic (Lk. Padden / Bellingham) M: 13th / 17 teams W: 5th / 16 teams. Oct. 22 GNAC (Lk. Padden / Bellingham) M: 10:00 a.m. W: 11:00 a.m. Nov. 5 NCAA West Regionals (Billings, Mont.) M: 10:00 a.m. W: 11:15 a.m. Nov. 19 NCAA D2 Championships (Saint Leo, Fla..) M: 5:30 a.m. W: 6:45 a.m.
GNAC SCOUTING REPORT MEN’S PREVIEW
WOMEN’S PREVIEW Sometimes, the favorites don’t win. That certainly was true a couple years ago in Oregon when Simon Fraser edged Alaska Anchorage by one point, ending the Seawolves’ string of five straight titles. But Anchorage was back on top convincingly again in 2015. And, based on its performance at Bellingham two weeks ago at Lake Padden, this is the team to beat. The Seawolves won the WWU Classic with 76 points, 25 fewer than Simon Fraser. Even so, this is setting up to be one of the more intriguing GNACs – and the Falcons have every capability of being in the mix, along with UAA, Simon Fraser, and host Western Washington. Seattle Pacific very possibly could have three runners in the top 20, including a pair in the top10. The latter would include senior Sarah Macdonald, who had one of her best races ever at the WWU Classic by finish fourth overall and second among GNAC runners. (Only Anchorage’s Caroline Kurgat, in second, was ahead of her.) Mary Charleson was the second Falcon to finish at the Classic, 11th overall. She has been the front runner most of the year, including the win at Humboldt State. She and Macdonald could get SPU off to a low-scoring start. The other top-20 candidate is Hannah Calvert, who is enjoying an outstanding senior season. She has been a solid No. 3 in every meet, was 24th at the Classic. Her time of 22:42 was actually 11 seconds faster than the 22:53 she ran to place 21st in last year’s conference meet at Lake Padden. The key for the Falcons will be what happens in back of Calvert. At least one more in the top 25 and a final scorer in the top 30 could give SPU a serious chance of reeling in Simon Fraser. But even that is far from a sure thing, as the Clan’s five scorers, led by Rebecca Bassett, ran extremely well in the Classic. Western Washington can’t be counted out, either. The host Vikings didn’t have their best meet two weeks ago, so will have plenty of motivation for a much better performance this time. As always, packing together will be crucial. The Nos. 1 to 5 WWU Classic spreads were 1:28 for Anchorage, 53 seconds for Simon Fraser, 1:37 for SPU, and 57 seconds for Western Washington. The first three Falcons were ahead of their respective Simon counterparts, but Nos. 4 and 5 from the Clan were both in front of Seattle Pacific’s No. 4.
For the first time in this season, the Falcons figure to have a full complement of seven competitors, as one missed the first two meets while completing a summer internship in Indiana, and another has been out for the last two with an injury. From a team standpoint, SPU will be seeking to beat its predicted 10th place finish in the GNAC preseason poll. Last year, the Falcons were ninth. One runner with plenty at state is junior Ben Halladay. He is having by far his best season as a collegian, with three straight strong races. Halladay was 19th overall (among 83 finishers) at the Humboldt State Invitational, ninth (out of 110) at Saint Martin’s, and 35th (of 185) at Western Washington. The WWU race was 10 kilometers, and Halladay’s time of 32:53 was a personal best by 85 seconds faster for that distance on the Lake Padden course. He finished last year’s 8-kilometer conference race in 26:36.70 for 31st place. If Halladay can finish in the top 20 on Saturday, he would earn a trip to regionals. The Falcons have been consistent, steady efforts from freshman Danny Provo, sophomore Jesse Phan, and senior Joey Walker, and will be looking for more of the same. Provo has been No. 2 behind Halladay in all three regular-season meets. Phan has moved steadily up the pack, running No. 5 for SPU at Humboldt, No. 4 at Saint Martin’s, then No. 3 at Western Washington. Walker was the No. 3 guy at Humboldt and Saint Martin’s, and No. 4 at WWU. Alaska Anchorage has won six titles in a row, and is heavily favored to make it seven. They won the season-opening Notre Dame de Namur Argo Invite, were second at Sundodger, and second at the WWU Classic. The Seawolves are ranked No. 9 nationally this week. The individual race could be wide open. Henry Cheseto of Anchorage is the defending champion, but was just 11th (and No. 3 for the Seawolves) on Oct. 8 at Lake Padden. David Ribich of Western Oregon is a strong contender for the title, along with Western Washington’s Isaac Derline (winner of the Classic), and UAA’s Edwin Kangogo and Michel Ramirez.
With Joyce Chelimo back in action at the Classic, she and teammate Kurgat will be regarded as the individual favorites. Chelimo and Kurgat went 1-2 last year in 21:00 and 21:08. MOST RECENT SPU TOP 7 – WOMEN Oct. 8, 2016 at Western Washington Classic 6 kilometers at Lake Padden Park / Bellingham, Wash.
MOST RECENT SPU TOP 7 – MEN Oct. 8, 2016 at Western Washington Classic 10 kilometers at Lake Padden Park / Bellingham, Wash.
Seattle Pacific 5th / 16 teams, 122 points
Seattle Pacific 13th / 17 teams, 341 points
Runner SPU place Overall Sarah Macdonald 1 4 Mary Charleson 2 11 Hannah Calvert 3 24 Katherine Walter 4 43 Chynna Phan 5 47 Alyssa Foote 6 61 Kate Lilly 7 63
Time 21:46.0 22:05.9 22:42.4 23:21.4 23:23.6 23:42.2 23:48.9
Runner SPU place Overall Ben Halladay 1 35 Danny Provo 2 92 Jesse Phan 3 112 Joey Walker 4 115 Clark Sterling 5 136 David McLeod 6 137 SPU competed just 6 runners.
Time 32:53.0 34:33.4 34:58.4 35:03.4 36:01.7 36:05.5
FALCON FODDER ASSISTANT COACH CHRIS REED SAYS …
MIX AND MATCH IN THE PACK
(On the women’s meet) “Anything is possible. There’s a lot of talent on our team as well as on some of the other teams in the conference. That’s the beauty of racing – they’re won or lost on the course, not on paper. If we run to our full capability, anything is possible.”
For the Seattle Pacific women, the front three have been the front three all season: junior Mary Charleson, and seniors Sarah Macdonald and Hannah Calvert.
(On the performance two weeks ago at Lake Padden) “The result wasn’t as good as it could have been, but I’m really encouraged by the way some of our people ran. If they’re able to run like that again, and if some of the others are able to step up the way they’re capable of, it gives us a lot of hope.” (On the performances of the three Falcon front runners) “Sarah (Macdonald) has been good in every single race. Hannah (Calvert) has been good in every race, Mary (Charleson) has been good. Having those three not only as far up as they are, but also as reliable and consistent as they are sets the tone for the rest of the team.” (On the men’s race) “The guys were picked to finish 10th. When we ran at Saint Martin’s (on Sept. 24), we lost to the one team that was ranked behind us. The guys responded really well to that. Two weeks later, they beat Saint Martin’s and came within 10 points of beating Fairbanks. It showed they’re capable of exceeding their preseason prediction. It’s up to those guys to have a good day and a lot of pride and do the best they can.”
But behind them, things have been in flux every week. Of the other seven runners on the team, six have been in the top 7 at least once: Sophie Carroll (No. 7 at Humboldt), Alyssa Foote (7 at Saint Martin’s; 6 at WWU), Hailey Kettel (6 at Humboldt and Saint Martin’s), Kate Lilly (all three meets), Chynna Phan (all three meets), and Katherine Walter (4 at WWU). Within that group, three have scored in the top 5: Phan (all three), Lilly (Humboldt and Saint Martin’s), and Walter (WWU). FOR PHANS, IT’S JUST A BUNCH OF 800s ALL AT ONCE SPU junior Chynna Phan and sophomore brother Jesse will never call a cross country race their ideal distance – 6,000 meters for Chynna in women’s race; 8,000 meters for Jesse in the men’s races (plus a 10K for him two weeks ago at Western Washington). Both are excellent 800-meter runners – in fact, Chynna ran that distance at last year’s NCAA indoor championships, and that’ll typically be their first choice. But starting to enjoy to going farther. “I’m liking it. It’s not what I would prefer to do over the 800,” said Jesse, who ran No. 3 for the Falcon men at WWU on Oct. 8. “But it’s definitely a fun experience. I like running on the trails and things like that.”
FASTEST OF THE FROSH? COULD BE A FALCON Based on their performances in the WWU Classic at Lake Padden on Oct. 8, it’s possible an SPU runner or two will be in contention for the GNAC Freshman of the Year award, which goes to the highest-placing member of that class in the conference meet.
Added Chynna, “The 800 is probably my favorite. But I have come to love cross country a lot more than I did when I started.”
With eight of the 11 conference schools on the course that day, Katherine Walter was the highest-placing GNAC freshman, taking 43rd in 23:21.4. Closest to her was Western Washington’s Peyton Shinnick, finishing 46th in 23:23.5.
MAROON RUNS IN THE FAMILY
Other GNAC frosh in the sub-24s on that rainy, windy Saturday were SPU’s Alyssa Foote (61st in 23:42), and Kate Lilly (63rd in 23:48), along with Western’s Sophia Galvez (52nd in 23:34), Talia Dreicer (54th in 23:38) and Waverly Shreffler (56th in 23:39), Central Washington’s Delaney Clem (59th in 23:40), and Alaska Anchorage’s Jordyn Block (67th in 23:52).
Walter, a graduate of Mountlake Terrace High School just north of Seattle, is the sixth member of her family to attend the school. She was preceded by mom Gillian, two aunts, an uncle, and a cousin.
Among the three schools not in Bellingham that day – Montana State Billings, Northwest Nazarene, and Western Oregon – none has a freshman who has broken 24 minutes for a 6K race.
That freshmen Katherine Walter and Danny Provo both decided to attend Seattle Pacific probably shouldn’t come as a surprise.
Provo, from Missoula, Mont., follows in the footsteps of his mom, who graduated from SPU in 1989. ON THE HONOR ROLL
The Falcons have had four Freshmen of the Year: Karin Rohde (2004), Mary Moriarty (2005), Jessica Pixler (2006), and Natalie Plunkett (2008).
Mary Charleson was named the GNAC women’s Athlete of the Week for cross country on Sept. 12 following her victory at the Humboldt State Invitational two days earlier. It was the first conference award for Charleson, and the only one for the Falcons this fall.
POLLING PLACE
UP NEXT
The Falcon women are still listed among the top teams in NCAA Division II as they head to Bellingham. SPU is No. 25 in this week’s USTFCCCA national rankings. They have been as high as No. 18 this season. Adams State of Colorado is a unanimous No. 1. SPU is one of seven West Region teams in the top 25.
The NCAA D2 II West Regionals are set for Saturday, Nov. 5, at Amend Park in Billings. The 10-kilometer men’s race begins at 9:00 a.m. Pacific time, followed by the 6K women’s race at 10:15. This meet will decide who gets tickets to Saint Leo, Fla., for the D2 nationals on Nov. 19. The top five men’s teams and top six women’s teams in Billings will qualify.
In the West Region rankings, the women are No. 7. Cal Baptist has replaced Chico State in the top spot, with the Wildcats currently No. 2.
In addition, the top three finishers who are not on one of the qualifying teams, or anyone finishing in the top 5 who are not on a qualifying team will advance as individuals.
RETRACING THEIR STEPS: 2016 Humboldt State Invitational
Saint Martin’s Invitational
Western Washington Classic
Mary Charleson made a decisive surge in the final 100 meters and won the Humboldt State Invitational. Charleson completed the 6-kilometer looping, fog-shrouded course through the oceanside Patrick’s Point State Park in 21 minutes, 8.21 seconds. She and senior teammate Sarah Macdonald, who came through in 21:14.88, put together a 1-3 finish that gave the Falcons second place in the standings behind perennial West Region powerhouse Chico State. The win was the first for Charleson in a college race. It also was her personalbest time on a 6-kilometer course, easily beating the 21:48 she posted in last year’s NCAA Division II West Regionals. The Wildcats, fourth at last year’s NCAA Division II Championships, finished with 40 points. SPU was next with 57.. Ben Halladay ran his fastest-ever 8-kilomter race, clocking 25 minutes, 34.74 seconds to finish 19th among 83 runners in the men’s race and lead the Falcons to sixth place with 197 points. A junior, Halladay had never broken 26 minutes for 8K
Mary Charleson, Sarah Macdonald, and Hannah Calvert went 2-3-4, and SPU grabbed eight of the top 10 spots overall to win the Saint Martin’s Invitational.
Sarah Macdonald and Ben Halladay insisted it wasn’t all that bad running in some of the wettest, windiest cross country conditions imaginable. Macdonald turned the women’s 6-kilometer into one of the best performances of her career, and Halladay came through with a substantial personal-best time in the men’s 10K on an otherwise miserable morning in the Western Washington Classic.
The Falcons, with their top 5 separated by just 63 seconds, finished with 22 points. This was the second straight time the SPU women have won the team title in Lacey and the sixth time overall. They also won in 2013, which was their most recent appearance in the meet. The only runner to finish ahead of SPU junior Charleson was Saint Martin’s senior Shannon Porter. Competing on her home course, Porter laid off the pace early, then made her move about a mile into it and completed the 5 kilometers in 17 minutes, 50.10 seconds. Charleson crossed in 18:01.70. Then came seniors Macdonald in 18:16.50, and Calvert in 18:34.70. Ben Halladay delivered another solid performance, coming home ninth overall, leading the Falcon men to eighth place in the team standings. Halladay clocked 26:34.70, and the Falcons checked in with 171 points
With eight of the 11 Great Northwest Athletic Conference schools and a handful of top British Columbia teams on the course, Macdonald came across the finish line in fourth place, leading the Falcons to fifth in the team standings with 122 points. Macdonald, with a PR of 21:46beat every runner from the conference except for Alaska Anchorage’s Caroline Kurgat, who was second in 21:26.5. Halladay went out with the lead pack early, and never backed down. He was in the upper 20s to mid 30s for most of the 10 kilometers. His 32:53 was 85 seconds faster than the 34:18 he ran at the Classic as a freshman in 2014.
RETRACING THEIR STEPS: 2015 GNAC 6 kilometers at Lake Padden Park / Bellingham, Wash.
8 kilometers at Lake Padden Park / Bellingham, Wash.
Seattle Pacific 5th / 11 teams, 114 points
Seattle Pacific 9th / 11 teams, 252 points
Runner SPU place Overall Anna Patti 1 4 Mary Charleson 2 20 Hannah Calvert 3 21 Jessica Rawlins 4 35 Lynelle Decker 5 36 Sarah Macdonald 6 37 Chynna Phan 7 39
Runner SPU place Overall Ben Halladay 1 31 Adam Avischious 2 49 Brian Comer 3 63 Joseph Walker 4 67 Brysten James 5 69 David McLeod 6 71 Clark Sterling 7 79
Time 21:42.5 22:53.0 22:53.1 23:09.6 23:11.3 23:11.7 23:13.6
Time 26:36.7 27:00.7 27:27.4 27:39.3 27:44.3 27:50.1 28:29.8
2016 Seattle Pacific Women’s Cross Country Roster Name Hannah Calvert Sophie Carroll Mary Charleson Alyssa Foote Hailey Kettel Kate Lilly Sarah Macdonald Sedona McNerney Chynna Phan Katherine Walter Pronunciation guide Chynna Phann
Yr. Sr Jr Jr Fr Jr Fr Sr Fr Jr Fr
Exp. 3V 2V 2V HS 2V HS 3V HS 2V HS
Hometown (HS/Last college) Enumclaw, WA (Enumclaw) Bremerton, WA (Central Kitsap) Mill Creek, WA (Jackson) Beaverton, OR (Aloha) Edmonds, WA (Edmonds-Woodway) Renton, WA (Hazen) Tucson, AZ (Pusch Ridge Christian) Fair Oaks, CA (Bella Vista) Bellingham, WA (Mt. Baker) Brier, WA (Mountlake Terrace)
China FAWN
2016 Seattle Pacific Men’s Cross Country Roster Name Yr. Exp. Ben Halladay Jr 2V Brysten James Jr 1V David McLeod Sr 1V Jesse Phan So HS Danny Provo Fr HS Clark Sterling Jr 2V Joey Walker Sr 1V Head coach: Karl Lerum Assistant coaches: Audra Smith, Chris Pronunciation guide Ben Halladay Brysten James Jesse Phan
HAL-a-day BRISS-ten FAWN
Karl Lerum Audra Smith
LEER-um AH-druh
Hometown (HS/Last College) Mukilteo, WA (Kamiak) Warsaw, IN (Warsaw Community HS) Des Moines, WA (Mount Rainier / W. Oregon) Bellingham, WA (Mt. Baker) Missoula, MT (Hellgate) Mill Creek, WA (Jackson) Auburn, WA (Jefferson / Highline CC) Reed
WOMEN NATIONAL (Oct. 11) 1. Adams State (Colo.) 2. Grand Valley St. (Mich.) 3. Univ. of Mary (S.D.) 4. Western State (Colo.) 5. Minnesota Duluth 6. Cedarville (Ohio) 7. Southern Indiana 8. Cal Baptist 9. Chico State 10. Northern Michigan 14. Alaska Anchorage 16. Point Loma Nazarene T19. Simon Fraser 24. UC San Diego 25. Seattle Pacific MEN NATIONAL (Oct. 11) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5 6. 7. 6. 9. 10.
Adams State Grand Valley St. (Mich.) Colorado Mines Chico State Cal Poly Pomona Western State (Colo.) Augustana (S.D.) Colorado State-Pueblo Alaska Anchorage Southern Indiana
12. UC San Diego T17. Cal Baptist 24. Academy of Art WOMEN WEST RGN. (Oct. 10) 1. Cal Baptist 2. Chico State 3. Alaska Anchorage 4. Point Loma Nazarene 5. Simon Fraser 6. UC San Diego 7. Seattle Pacific 8. Western Washington 9. Humboldt State 10. Cal Poly Pomona
MEN
WOMEN
School (1st place) Points
School (1st place) Points
1. Alaska Anchorage (11) 2. Simon Fraser 3. Western Washington 4. Western Oregon 5. Northwest Nazarene 6. Montana State Billings 7. Central Washington 8. Concordia (Ore.) 9. Alaska Fairbanks 10. Seattle Pacific 10. Saint Martin’s
121 106 101 88 64 61 60 38 35 28 24
PRESEASON RANKINGS
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.
Alaska Anchorage (9) W. Washington (2) Simon Fraser Seattle Pacific Central Washington Western Oregon Condordia Northwest Nazar Saint Martin’s Alaska Fairbanks Montana St. Billings
117 107 90 88 79 63 46 45 36 25 21
MEN WEST RGN. (Oct. 10) 1. Chico State 2. Cal Poly Pomona 3. Alaska Anchorage 4. UC San Diego 5. Cal Baptist 6. Academy of Art 7. Simon Fraser 6. Western Washington 9. San Francisco State 10. Western Oregon Next rankings: Oct. 24-25
HEAD COACH / PROGRAM DIRECTOR KARL LERUM Having successfully continued a long-standing tradition of success with Seattle Pacific’s track and field teams, Karl Lerum is now in his fourth year as director of the school’s entire running program, including cross country, having taken on that role in the fall of 2013. Lerum is heading into his 12th year in charge of the SPU track program. In 2015, for the sixth time in school history, and all under his leadership, the Falcon women pulled an indoor-outdoor GNAC team title sweep. They followed that up with a second straight outdoor title in 2016. A few weeks after the season, Lerum was named the 2016 GNAC women’s outdoor Coach of the Year, as well as USTFCCCA West Region women’s outdoor Coach of the Year. The GNAC award was his seventh. He has swept the women’s indoor and outdoor honors five times: 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2015. He also has six West Region women’s indoor Coach of the Year awards and five outdoor honors, giving him 25 conference and region honors altogether between the winter and spring seasons. Of Seattle Pacific’s 10 conference indoor team championships, Lerum has been the man in charge for eight of those. During the 2016 outdoor season, 12 Falcon women posted a total of 17 NCAA provisional qualifying marks. Of those qualifiers, Jahzelle Ambus (400), Lynelle Decker (800, 1500), Geneva Lehnert (high jump), Maliea Luquin (100 hurdles) and Jalen Tims (400 hurdles) made it to nationals, with Decker making All-American in both of her races.
Indoors in 2016, Lerum’s Falcons hit nine NCAA qualifying marks, and ultimately came up big at nationals in Pittsburg, Kan. Decker raced to a silver medal in the 800, and the 4x400 relay team of Tims, Decker, Cheryl Hong, and Ambus bagged a bronze. In addition, the 4,000-meter distance medley relay of Decker, Ambus, Chynna Phan, and Anna Patti gained All-American status by finishing fifth. Ambus and Tims also ran in the 400 meters, and Lehnert got there in the high jump. Lerum stepped up to the Falcons’ coaching helm in October 2005, taking over from Jack Hoyt. He worked as an assistant to Hoyt in 2000, and again in 2003. In between, he spent two years as an assistant coach at Trinity College, an NCAA Division III school in Hartford, Conn. As an athlete at Pacific Lutheran University in nearby Tacoma, Lerum made his mark in two sports. On the football field, he set – and still owns – the school career records for receptions and receiving yards. On the track, Lerum has the Lutes record in the 400 meters and is among the school’s top 10 in the decathlon, 110 hurdles, long jump, 100 meters, and javelin. He was an All-American in the decathlon, finishing third at the NAIA nationals in 1996 and second in ‘97 and ‘98. He didn’t stop there. After college, Lerum was on the San Francisco 49ers’ roster for the 1998 and 1999 preseason, and played with the Amsterdam Admirals in NFL Europe. In 2003 and again in 2004, he served as the head coach of the Oslo Vikings football program in Norway. Lerum is a graduate of Franklin Pierce High School in Parkland, south of Tacoma. He has a bachelor’s degree in history from PLU and a master’s in history from Trinity. He and wife Yvonne and son Lucas live in Seattle.
ASSISTANT COACH CHRIS REED Chris Reed is beginning his sixth year as a collegiate coach and his fourth year as an assistant at Seattle Pacific, joining the staff in December 2013. The native of Klamath Falls, Ore., is a 2011 graduate of Western Oregon University, majoring in economics. On the cross country course, he was a two-time All-Great Northwest Athletic Conference selection, finishing seventh as a junior in 2009 and third as a senior in 2010. He also was a two-time NCAA qualifier, earning All-American recognition in 2009. On the track, Reed raced to a pair of All-GNAC honors, taking third in the 5,000 meters as a freshman in 2008, then placing third in the 1,500 as a senior in 2011. He also was fourth in the 5K as a junior and senior. Indoors, he won the 2011 GNAC mile title and anchored the Wolves’ distance medley relay to All-American status later that season. Reed finished his WOU career with five school records: the mile, 5000, and DMR indoors, along with the 5000 and 10,000 outdoors. He ran in five NCAA championship meets (twice in cross country and outdoor track, and once in indoor track). He became an assistant coach at Western Oregon in 2011 prior to joining the Falcons. He was named the West Region Women’s Indoor Assistant Coach of the Year in 2015 by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. He also is the director of the Falcon Running Camp.
ASSISTANT COACH AUDRA SMITH Audra Smith, who started out as a sprinter, became a heptathlete, and now has competed in four marathons, is in her fourth year on the Falcons coaching staff, coming aboard in August 2013.The graduate of Idaho State spent the previous four years before joining the Falcons as a coach at the University of Washington – one year as a multi-events assistant for track, and the past three as a strength and conditioning coach. She now works primarily with SPU’s sprinters, During the 2015-16 school year, the Falcon women won a bronze medal in the 4x400 relay at the NCAA Division II indoor meet, sent two women to the open 400 at indoor nationals and one for the 400 at outdoor nationals. New school records were set in the women’s indoor and outdoor 400, the indoor 200, and the indoor 4x400 relay. Smith starred in the heptathlon at Idaho State, placing second at the Big Sky Conference meet in 2007. She also was a member of the victorious 4x100 relay team, and scored in the 100, 200, 100 hurdles, and javelin as the Bengals won the team championship for the first time in school history. In the winter of 2016, Smith was named the West Region Women’s Indoor Track Assistant Coach of the Year by the USTFCCCA.
2016 WOMEN’S RESULTS CHART
2016 MEN’S RESULTS CHART
Seattle Pacific University Cross Country 2016 Preseason Prospectus General Information
Institution: Seattle Pacific University Address: 3307 Third Avenue West, Seattle, WA 98119 Founded: 1891 Enrollment: 4,175 Nickname: Falcons Colors: Maroon & White Affiliation: NCAA Division II Conference: Great Northwest Athletic Conference President: Dr. Daniel J. Martin (Southern Nazarene) Athletic Dir.: Jackson Stava (Azusa Pacific ‘05) Athletic Department office: 206-281-2085 Fax: 206-281-2266 Athletic Department Web Site: www.spufalcons.com Sports Info Director: Dan Lepse (206-281-2741, [email protected]) Cross country SID: Mark Moschetti (206-281-2772, [email protected])
Cross Country Information
Head Coach: Karl Lerum (4th year; Pacific Lutheran ‘98) Coach’s office: 206-281-2897 E-mail: [email protected] Assistant Coaches: Audra Smith ([email protected]) Chris Reed ([email protected]) Athletic Trainer: Jason Durocher Trainer’s office: 206-281-2768 E-mail: [email protected]
History
First year of women’s cross country: 1976. First year of men’s cross country: 1954. Women’s NCAA appearances: 15 (1983, 86, 90, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 2006, 07, 08, 09, 12, 13, 15). Men’s NCAA appearances: 1 (2004). Women’s best NCAA finish: 2nd (2007). Men’s best NCAA finish: 19th (2004). Women’s AIAW Division II appearances: 3 (1979, 80, 81). Men’s NAIA appearances: 1 (1961). Women’s best AIAW Division II finish: 2nd (1979, 80). Men’s best NAIA finish: 6th (1961). Women’s conference championships: 11 (Pac West 1993, 94, 96, 97, 98, 99; GNAC 2003, 05, 06, 07, 08). Men’s conference championships: 1 (GNAC 2004).
Primary Print Media
Seattle Times (www.seattletimes.com; [email protected]) Sports desk: (206) 464-2276 Fax: (206) 464-3255 Everett Herald (www.heraldnet.com; [email protected]) Sports desk: (425) 339-3470 Fax: (425) 339-3464 Tacoma News Tribune (www.thenewstribune.com; [email protected]) Sports desk: (253) 597-8680 Fax: (253) 597-8360
2016 Schedule
Date Opponent Time Sept. 10 Humboldt State Invite (Trinidad, Calif.) M: 9 a.m. W: 10 a.m. Sept. 24 Saint Martin’s Invitational (Lacey) M: 9:30 W: 10:20 Oct. 8 WWU Classic (Belilngham) M: 10 a.m. W: 11 a.m. Oct. 22 GNAC (Lk. Padden / Bellingham) M: 10 a.m. W: 11 a.m. Nov. 5 NCAA West Regionals (Billings) M 10 a.m. W 11:15 Nov. 19 NCAA Champs. (Saint Leo, Fla.) M: 5:30 a.m. W: 6:45
2015 Review WOMEN:
MEN:
GNAC: 5th (114). West Regionals: 5th (207). NCAA: 15th (398). Best invitational finish (full team): 3rd at Charles Bowles Invite. Rankings (National / West): Preseason: NR / 9. High: 13 / 3. Final: NR / NR. GNAC: 9th (252). West Regionals: 20th (557). NCAA: DNQ. Best invitational finish (full team): 10th at Charles Bowles Invite. Rankings (National / West): Preseason: NR / NR. High: 17 / 5. Final: 20 / 9.
2016 Women’s Preview
Top 7 returning: 4. Top 7 lost: 3. Other letterwinners returning: 1. Other letterwinners lost: 1. Returning Top 7 (4) Yr Hannah Calvert Sr Mary Charleson Jr Sarah Macdonald Sr Chynna Phan Jr
2015 Honors 128th at NCAAs All-West Region, 99th at NCAAs 65th at NCAAs 148th at NCAAs
Other returning letterwinners (1) Hailey Kettel Jr Other returners (1) Sophie Carroll R-So Top 7 / Other letterwinners lost (3 / 1) Top 7: Lynelle Decker, Anna Patti (All-GNAC, All-West Region, 61st at NCAAs), both graduated; Jessica Rawlins (185th at NCAAs), not returning. Other: Kiley Zeitler, graduated. Newcomers (4) Yr Alyssa Foote Fr Kate Lilly Fr Sedona McNerney Fr Katherine Walter Fr
Hometown (last school) Beaverton, OR (Aloha) Renton, WA (Hazen) Fair Oaks, CA (Bella Vista) Brier, WA (Mountlake Terrace)
2016 Men’s Preview
Top 7 returning: 5. Top 7 lost: 2. Other letterwinners returning: 0. Other letterwinners lost: 0 Returning Top 7 (5) Yr Ben Halladay Jr Brysten James Jr David McLeod Sr Clark Sterling Jr Joey Walker Sr
2015 Honors
Other returning letterwinners (0) Other returners (0) Top 7 / Other letterwinners lost (2 / 0) Top 7: Adam Avischious, Brian Comer, both graduated. Newcomers (2) Yr Jesse Phan R-Fr Danny Provo Fr
Hometown (last school) Deming, WA (Mt. Baker) Missoula, MT (Hellgate)
