MONMOUTH, Ore. - While not finishing the day with a completed team total, both the Nanooks men's and women's cross country teams competed at the 2021 NCAA West Regional race in Monmouth, Ore. on the campus of Western Oregon University.
"Both teams were really challenged today." said graduate-assistant
Josh Sanderlin, "The last time we were in Oregon, it was really hot and really dusty, today was rainy, windy and cold. Through both adverse conditions, they showed that they are very worthy runners. They showed their toughness and their fitness."
The women's team opened up the day at 9:00 a.m. AKT with a 6k race at the Ash Creek Preserve. Despite losing their fifth-racer, the Nanooks sent out a solid-four in
Naomi Bailey,
Rosie Fordham,
Kendall Kramer and
Delainey Zock. Fordham, once again, led the Nanooks to the finish line. After opening with the pack, Bailey, Fordham and Kramer pushed to the front, sticking with the top-10. Near the end of the race, Fordham was the first in the blue and gold to appear, entering the final stretch in fourth. She pushed across in fourth-place, with a time of 21:34.4, 20 seconds behind the winner, Kaela Dishion of Stanislaus State. Next, only 1.7 seconds behind Fordham,
Kendall Kramer crossed the finish line. She claimed the fifth-place finish with a time of 21:36.1. Finally, the last Nanook to finish in the top-10 was
Naomi Bailey. She came across the finish line in sixth-place, running to a time of 21.41.7, only 5.6 seconds behind Kramer.
Delainey Zock was the final Nanook to finish in the women's 6k. She raced to a 33rd-place finish, pushing across the finish line with a time of 22:25.1, finishing 1:10.7 behind the winner.
The 4-5-6 finish earned Bailey, Fordham and Kramer All-West Region honors.
Rosie Fordham and
Kendall Kramer also earned individual qualification to the NCAA Championships in Tampa, Fla. at Saint Leo University on Nov. 20.
Naomi Bailey has a chance to qualify as an at-large bid. The NCAA will announce the rest of the field for the 2021 NCAA Championships on Tuesday, Nov. 8.
"We lost our fifth-runner before the race, due to injury, so we were forced to change the game plan a little bit, focusing more on the individual level. We knew we had a good shot at qualifying our top-three runners for the NCAA Championships, and that was a conversation we had with all three leading up to the West Regional race. I couldn't be more proud of how all four performed, We had our top-three come in at 4-5-6, and our fourth,
Delainey Zock, came in at 33rd-place. It was an astounding race from all of them, really." added Sanderlin.
The men's team followed, competing in the 10k race at the NCAA West Regional.
They too, did not qualify as a full-team, sending four individuals out to race.
Zephan Ozturgut was the top-finisher for Alaska, picking up a 133rd-place finish and a time of 35:37.9. Joining him at the finish line was
Koen Ross, only one-place behind, finishing 134th with a time of 35:44.6.
Nolan Earnest and
Jack Cater wrapped-up the day for the Nanooks as Earnest crossed the line in 142nd-place and a time of 37:30.6 while Cater finished close behind in 145th with a time of 38:10.9.
Sanderlin's final thoughts came about the men's race, "We really focused on individuals, bringing four guys, we knew they wouldn't score as a team. The guys tapered for GNAC Championships and performed well there. It's been quite a while since they've had a full workout, so I think we're all a bit tired but given the rain and overall weather, I think they performed well and ran very well for what was up against them. It was a very competetive men's field. Going the 10k distance is something they'll have many attempts at learning. It's one that can take a real handful of tries to get used to, but I'm very excited for the future."
The Nanooks will return home and will await the NCAA XC Championships field release on Tuesday, Nov. 8.
For more information on the Alaska Nanooks XC teams, follow @Alaska_XC on Instagram, or like the Alaska Nanooks XC team page on Facebook.
