The Seattle University cross country team wrapped up a successful 2013 season by competing at the NCAA West Regional meet Friday morning, hosted by Sacramento State University at Haggin Oaks Golf Club.
The men’s 10-kilometer race kicked off the event, with Nathan McLaughlin (Puyallup, Wash.) and Graham Kinzel-Grubbs (Portland, Ore.) being credited with the same finishing time of 32:12, although McLaughlin finished in 115th place, just ahead of Kinzel-Grubbs in 116th place. Freshman Tyler Flannery (Auburn, Wash.) put together a strong effort to conclude his first collegiate season, finishing in 158th place with a time of 33:18.
Caleb Herrera (Tucson, Ariz.) was the next Redhawk to cross the finish line, ending up in 164th place with a time of 33:36. Gus Arroyo (Portland, Ore.) finished in 167th place with a time of 33:51, just ahead of teammate Miles Hille (Woodinville, Wash.) in 168th place with a mark of 33:53. Senior Ryan Dennison (Pacifica, Calif.) concluded his collegiate running career by posting a time of 34:37, finishing in 181st place.
As a team, the Seattle University men finished in 25th place with 694 points, ahead of Portland State and Pepperdine. With three runners in the top six, Stanford won the team regional title with 53 points, while Oregon’s Edward Cheserek won the individual race in 29:35.
“This season the guys really had to step up. Being so young and inexperienced, I think they handled themselves well and grew a tremendous amount. This growth will be the springboard for the excellence I know they can and will achieve in the upcoming track season as well as next year’s cross country season,” Seattle U head cross country coach Trisha Steidl said.
In the women’s six-kilometer race, both Hannah Mittelstaedt (Maple Valley, Wash.) and Sophie Curatilo (Honolulu, Hawaii) posted top-100 finishes, with Mittelstaedt finishing in 96th place in 21:23, just ahead of Curatilo in 98th place with a time of 21:24. Lila Rice (Redmond, Wash.), the WAC Freshman of the Year, crossed the finish line in 116th place with a mark of 21:37, followed by Lauren Hammerle (Seattle, Wash.) in 123rd place in 21:42.
Next to cross the finish line for the Redhawks was Taylor de Laveaga (Gilbert, Ariz.) in 134th place with a time of 21:48. Elena Smith (Seattle, Wash.) finished in 142nd place with a time of 21:55, and Madison Davis (Camano Island, Wash.) completed the course with a mark of 23:19 to finish in 212th place.
The Seattle University women improved on their overall placement from last year’s regional meet, ending up in 20th place with 563 points, ahead of 12 other schools including Fresno State, Santa Clara, San Diego State, and UNLV. Arizona’s top runners finished close together to defeat Stanford for the team title, while Emma Bates of Boise State won the individual title with a time of 19:11.
“The women have had an incredible season. They’ve learned to be tenacious and resilient. They too will build upon this season and continue to grow and push their boundaries,” added Steidl.
For both the Redhawk men’s and women’s squads, five of the seven runners who competed in the regional meet are eligible to return for the 2014 cross country season. After a short period of recovery, the Seattle University distance runners will begin preparations for the 2014 indoor track and field season, which starts in January.