In an event featuring some of the top Division I talent in the Northwest, the Seattle University cross country teams were up to the challenge Friday evening at the West Coast Preview hosted by the University of Portland at Pier Park, as the men’s team finished in fifth place, while the women’s team earned a fourth place finish.
Nathan Heitzinger (Scottsdale, Ariz.) continued to lead the way for Seattle University, finishing fourth in the men’s 8k race in a time of 25:27.50, just 22 seconds behind race winner Colby Litzenberger of Gonzaga. The senior finished just nine seconds behind Andy Edick of Portland and only two seconds after Rob Schlegel of Portland.
Nicholas Alvarado (San Francisco, Calif.) finished in 23rd place with a time of 26:30.70, with Hans Heitzinger (Scottsdale, Ariz.) close behind in 29th place in a time of 26:46.50. Michael Van Nuland (Newcastle, Wash.) earned a 37th place finish in a time of 27:07.40, followed by Graham Miller (Spokane, Wash.) in 49th place (27:31.20), Nick Cannata-Bowman (San Francisco, Calif.) in 56th place (27:53.00), Max Cole (Fort Collins, Colo.) in 61st place (27:56.40), and Doug Rudeen (Boise, Idaho) in 66th place (28:08.80).
The Redhawk men totaled 123 points, three points less than Gonzaga to finish ahead of the Bulldogs in the team competition. Portland easily won the men’s race, followed by Boise State, Western Oregon, and Pepperdine.
On the women’s side, Katie Hansen (Portland, Ore.) was the top Seattle finisher in the 6k race, earning a 13th place finish in a time of 22:38.00. Rachel Yorkston (Bellingham, Wash.) finished in 24th place with a time of 23:28.00, with Rachael Johnson (Yakima, Wash.) right behind her in 26th place with a time of 23:31.00.
Rhiannon Cadelinia (San Francisco, Calif.) crossed the finish line in 38th place with a time of 24:11.00, while Julia Miller (Normandy Park, Wash.) finished in 41st place in a time of 24:18.00. Rounding out Seattle’s squad at the meet were Greta Stickney (Poulsbo, Wash.) in 50th place (24:45.00) and Kerianne Quiocho (Tacoma, Wash.) in 58th place (25:05.00). As a team, the Seattle women compiled 107 points, less than GNAC rival Western Oregon and Division I school Gonzaga. Portland won the women’s team competition, with Boise State second and Pepperdine third.
Those Seattle University runners who did not compete at Portland will run in the Sundodger Invitational Saturday morning at Lincoln Park in West Seattle. The team will then have two weeks to prepare for the Charles Bowles Invitational hosted by Willamette University in Salem, Ore., on Saturday, Sept. 29.