FAIRBANKS - The Alaska Nanooks cross country teams opened their 2022 season in Fairbanks with the visiting Alaska Anchorage Seawolves. The women's team won the dual-meet 27-30 while the men's team fell to UAA 32-23.

The women's race kicked off the meet at 11:15 a.m. Alaska Time and it was Kendall Kramer's race from the get-go. The sophomore from Fairbanks pushed ahead to an early lead and won in convincing fashion for the second-straight year. She posted a time of 18:28, winning by 11 seconds. Coming in second was Rosie Fordham. The fellow-sophomore followed behind, finishing with a time of 18:39 in the women's 5k race. Elle Stevens of UAA was the top-finisher for UAA, taking third-overall with a time of 20:23, edging out teammate Alfin Nyamasyo, who took fourth. 

Delainey Zock was the third Nanook to cross the line, finishing fifth with a time of 20:29. Jordan Strausbaugh of UAA took sixth, finishing 34 seconds behind Zock with a 21:03 finishing time. Freshman Abigail Haas completed her first collegiate race for the Nanooks, taking seventh with a time of 21:17. Sofija Spaic, Arielle Himelbloom, Bailey Roe and Monica Ruelas rounded out the UAA finishers taking eighth, ninth, 10th and 11th, respectively. Teegan Silva battled through to the finish line for the Nanooks, taking 12th-place with a final time of 26:15 in her collegiate debut. 

The men's race was an 8k and was won by UAA's Cole Nash. He led the pack, winning with a time of 27:17, 35 seconds faster than his teammate, Jesus Avalos, who placed second. Koen Ross ran a 28:42 for the Nanooks, claiming third-place. Zach Christensen of UAA took fourth with a time of 29:24. Josh Baurick finished fifth in his Nanook debut, finishing the 8k in 30:02. Titus Kangogo took sixth for UAA, finishing in 30:14. Ryan Owens, Jack Cater and Nolan Earnest rounded out the Nanooks scoring, taking seventh, eighth and ninth with times of 30:53, 34:24 and 34:43. Drew Johnson rounded out the scoring for UAA, taking 10th-place.

The Nanooks and Seawolves meet again next weekend on Sept. 3 at Kincaid Park for the Seawolf Throwdown. 

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.