ANCHORAGE - Did someone say rivalry? The Alaska Nanooks Cross Country team is headed south to the University of Alaska Anchorage to face off against their in-state rivals this Saturday at the Seawolf Throwdown. This first race of the season will take place at Kincaid Park with the men starting at 10:00 a.m. and the women following immediately after.
With the Great Northwest Athletic Conference posting their 2024 Cross Country Preseason Poll last week, both teams are looking to make big strides coming into the weekend, so let's recap.
GNAC Preseason Poll
Out of ten teams competing in the conference, the Alaska Nanooks women ranked second, receiving 81 points and earning a vote for first place. The women look to push towards these votes after seeing success at the 2023 GNAC Championships where they placed third as a team.
The Alaska Nanooks men were voted ninth in the poll going into this season after their ninth-place finish at the GNAC Championships last season. The men received 17 points coming into the 2024 season and look to make big strides on the year.
Both the men and women of Western Washington received a first-place ranking in this year's preseason poll after coming out on top at the 2023 GNAC Championships. As the Nanooks kick off their season this weekend, there is much to prove as we introduce 20 newcomers to the blue and gold.
Men's Newcomers:
Curtis Beck
Ben Browning
Rafe Caruthers
Tyler Christensen
Blake Hanley
Derk Lyford
Eli Mead
Paxson Ott
Ruben Rhodes
Gabriele Rigaudo
Harrison Riggs
Clem Taylor-Roth
Women's Newcomers:
Katharine Brigham
Lucca Duke
Riga Grubis
Jasmin Holst
Jazzy Jones
Olivia Manley
Hazel Probst
Madison Schuh
Runners to Watch
Men's- The first veteran runner of the Alaska Nanooks is sophomore Ben Dohlby of Pewaukee, Wisconsin. Dohlby finished 32nd and earned the 'Nooks 29 points in the 8k race at GNAC Championships race last season and looks to continue that strength into the weekend.
Philipp Moosemayer from Leutkirch, Germany earned the Nanooks just 41 points during championships last year where he placed 44th overall. The junior class runner is definitely one to watch as we go into the first race of the year.
Coming out of Castle Rock, Washington is senior runner Koen Ross who followed close behind Moosemayer last season, where he placed 52nd overall.
Women's- You know her well! Does first place ring a bell? Kendall Kramer enters her senior season this year with not one but two GNAC titles to her name after her win at GNAC Championships last year. Alongside her win, she also earned the accolade of the GNAC Female Cross Country Athlete of the Year proving her to be the runner to watch this season.
After earning All-Conference honors and second place at GNAC Championships last season, Rosie Fordham has continued to be a force for the Nanooks. She trailed Kramer by just 10 seconds in her championship run, showing the strength of a top runner to watch.
The third runner to watch for the women is senior Delainey Zock who finished in the top-25 at GNAC Championships last season after racing a time of 22:24.8. This placed her at 24th overall and proves there is much on the horizon as she enters her senior season.
Regional/National Poll
The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association will be releasing the 2024 Regional Rankings on 9/3 as well as their National Coaches' poll on 9/4. These rankings will be some to watch as we enter another exciting season for the Alaska Nanooks Cross Country team.
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