ANCHORAGE - The Nanooks cross country team continues their 2026 season at the Seawolf Throwdown this weekend. They'll face Alaska Anchorage in another head-to-head race after seeing UAA in Fairbanks last weekend in the Blue/Gold Race. 

Saturday, Sept. 12
at Alaska Anchorage | 10 a.m.
Anchorage | Kincaid Park

Men Race First | Women to Follow 

Last Time Out
The Nanooks raced at home last weekend to open their 2026 campaign. In the men's race at 10 a.m., the Nanooks fell 50-15 with Aidan Niedbalski leading the way. He was the top finisher for the Nanooks, finishing 11th with a time of 27:21 in his college debut. Brady Benedict followed in 12th with a finishing time of 28:00. Max Erickson placed 13th with a 28:15 as the third scorer for the 'Nooks. In the women's race, Tabitha Williams won the Blue/Gold with a time of 22:24, winning by over 10 seconds. Natalie Allen was the top-finisher for the Seawolves following in second with a 22:36. Sadie Johnson was the next scoring Nanooks racer, finishing fifth in her freshman debut for the blue and gold.

Runner of the Week
Tabitha Williams of the Nanooks women's cross country team was named the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week on Tuesday, Sept. 8. This is Williams' first-career GNAC runner of the week honor. "It was a really impressive run by Tabby," said head coach Conrad Haber. "For the past few years she's been able to lock in with her teammates and use them to help her gauge her effort when racing. Leading a race for the first time from start to finish is challenging, especially against talented competitors, so this past weekend represented a big step forward in Tabby's overall development as a runner."

GNAC Preseason Poll
The Nanooks open up 2026 after both teams ranked eighth in the GNAC Preseason Cross Country polls. The polls are collected through coaches rankings. 

Men's Poll

• Western Washington (100pts, 10 First-Place Votes)
• Alaska Anchorage (83pts)
• Northwest Nazarene (83pts)
• Western Oregon (72pts)
• Simon Fraser (56pts)
• Central Washington (48pts)
• Seattle Pacific (41pts)
• Alaska (34pts)
• Saint Martin's (20pts)
• Montana State Billings (13pts)

Women's Poll

• Western Washington (100pts, 10 First-Place Votes)
• Central Washington (82pts)
• Simon Fraser (80pts)
• Alaska Anchorage (76pts)
• Seattle Pacific (75pts)
• Western Oregon (73pts)
• Northwest Nazarene (60pts)
• Alaska (40pts)
• Montana State Billings (28pts)
• Saint Martin's (26pts)

Newcomers
The Nanooks welcome brought in a handful of newcomers for the 2026 season. On the men's side, the 'Nooks welcome: Mats Langenkamp, Aidan Niedbalski, Logan Reinheller, and Andrew Severs. On the women's side, the Nanooks welcome: Ourea Busk, Lilian Coy, Iris Haas, Abi Howe, Sadie Johnson, Mila Moseley, Emma Niedbalski, and Sadie Schenk. 

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