FAIRBANKS - The Alaska Nanooks cross country teams officially open their 2022 regular-season on Saturday, Aug. 27 against the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves. The women's race will kick-off 2022 with a 5k followed by an 8k ran by the men's teams.
Saturday, Aug. 27
Vs. Alaska Anchorage | Women's Start: 11:15 a.m. (5k) | Men's Start: 11:45 a.m. (8k)
UAF Running Trails
Community 5k
The Nanooks will host a community 5k at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 27 at the UAF Running Trails just before the start of their season. The community 5k is $20 for all and $10 for youth. Sign-ups are still open online, but close Friday, Aug. 26 at 5:00 p.m.
Use this link to sign-up online, or bring cash to the UAF Running Trails on Aug. 27 as sign-ups will be cash only at that time.
SIGN-UP HERE
Last Time Out
The Nanooks have not raced as a team since the 2021 NCAA West Regional race in Monmouth, Ore. at Western Oregon University. Neither team placed, due to not enough finishers, but the women's team saw three runners earn All-West Region honors. Naomi Bailey, Rosie Fordham and Kendall Kramer all earned the honor as the trio took fourth, fifth and sixth at the West Regional race. Delainey Zock, another sophomore returner, was the fourth-finisher and was a strong force all year alongside Bailey, Fordham and Kramer. She took 33rd, missing the All-Region cut by eight places.
On the men's side, now graduated Zephan Ozturgut was the top-finisher, taking 133rd with a time of 35:37.9. The final three racers all return to the 2022 roster as Koen Ross took 134th with a time of 35:44.6, Nolan Earnest took 142nd with a time of 37:30.6 and Jack Cater finished 145th with a time of 38:10.9. This ended the Nanooks men's cross country season, but was just the beginning for the Nanooks women's team.
Bailey, Fordham and Kramer all qualified individually for the 2021 NCAA Championships at Saint Leo University in Tampa, Fla. There, they became the first 'Nooks to race since the 2011 season when the Alaska women's team qualified, the programs' first and only team to qualify. Fordham posted the best finish by a Nanook racer, taking 61st with a time of 21:44.9. Kramer followed closely, finishing 72nd and Bailey finished 174th.
Looking Ahead
Following the Blue/Gold Meet, the Nanooks will return the favor and head south to Anchorage for the Seawolf Throwdown on Sept. 3.
Season Outlook
Alaska will race this week and next before taking a month off before their next event. On Oct. 7, they'll head to Montana State Billings for an NCAA West Regional preview. They'll then race on Oct. 22 at Seattle Pacific for an NCAA Championships preview before heading to the GNAC Championships in Monmouth, Ore. on Nov. 5. The NCAA West Regional will be held on Nov. 19 in Billings, Mont. before the possibility of racing at the NCAA Championships on Dec. 2 in Seattle, Wash.
For more information on the Alaska Nanooks Cross Country teams, follow @NanooksXC on Instagram or Twitter, or like the Alaska Nanooks XC team page on Facebook.
