The Seattle University women’s cross country team used four All-Conference performances as well as a gutty effort from a veteran to win the 2014 Western Athletic Conference Women’s Cross Country Championship Saturday morning at the Palm View Golf Club.
Seattle U was led by senior Sophie Curatilo (Honolulu, Hawaii), who finished second overall with a time of 17:48, behind only conference champion Courtney Frerichs of Missouri-Kansas City. Sophomore Lila Rice (Redmond, Wash.), last year’s WAC Freshman of the Year by finishing 12th in the conference meet, improved upon that with a fifth-place finish this season in 17:59, followed by Taylor de Laveaga (Gilbert, Ariz.) in seventh place with a time of 18:04. All three Redhawks earned First Team All-WAC honors for their performances.
Elena Smith (Seattle, Wash.) made a significant move during the second half of the five-kilometer race, ending up in 10th place in 18:23, earning Second Team All-WAC honors in the process. Madison Davis (Camano Island, Wash.) also played a major role in the Redhawks’ title, advancing into 19th place at the end with a time of 18:53.
Moira O’Connor Lenth (Seattle, Wash.) continued an improved sophomore season, finishing 22nd overall with a time of 18:59, while Rebecca Lassere (Boise, Idaho) finished in 37th place in 19:52. Meghan Arigo (San Luis Obispo, Calif.) finished in 46th place with a time of 20:22, followed by Emily Hedberg (Phoenix, Ariz.) in 50th place in 20:52.
The Redhawks collected 43 points, just two points ahead of second-place Utah Valley with 45 points. Seattle U head coach Trisha Steidl was named WAC Coach of the Year as she led the Redhawks to the first-ever Division I conference title in the history of the cross country program.
“This is something that we have had our eye on since day one this season, something the ladies have been really focused on, and they have been very determined, more so than I have seen in any other season,” Steidl said. “I knew what our mentality was after last year, and that we would build on that throughout this season. This is a very special thing for our program, and I know they are very excited about accomplishing this goal.”
In the men’s eight-kilometer race, Gus Arroyo (Portland, Ore.) earned First Team All-WAC honors after finishing in fifth place with a time of 25:22. Joe Charbonneau (Bellingham, Wash.) was the next Redhawk to cross the finish line in 16th place in 26:10, followed by Ben Monk (Olympia, Wash.) in 19th place in 26:20.
Collin Overbay (Spokane, Wash.) finished in 24th place with a time of 26:34, just ahead of teammate Chay Weaver (Louisville, Colo.) in 25th place in 26:38. Matthew Seidel (Santa Clara, Calif.) crossed the finish line in 29th place in 26:46, followed by Louis Rodrigues (Alameda, Calif.) in 31st place with a time of 26:54.
Baxter Arguinchona (Spokane, Wash.) finished in 37th place with a time of 27:26, and Joseph Nakao (Sammamish, Wash.) drove for a 41st place finish in 27:43. As a team, the Seattle U men finished in fourth place with 84 points, just behind third-place UMKC with 81 points. Utah Valley easily won the men’s team title thanks to its five scoring runners all finishing in the top ten, and New Mexico State’s Daniel Rubio won the individual title in 24:56.
"Some of the guys ran great, but some of them had a rough day. The finish wasn't what our goals were or what we are capable of. I believe these guys can regroup and bounce back strong for regionals," said Steidl.
Seven members of both the men’s and women’s cross country teams will move on to compete at the NCAA West Regional Meet Friday, Nov. 14, in Stanford, Calif. The women’s six-kilometer race will begin at 11 a.m., followed by the men’s 10-kilometer event at 12 noon.