The Seattle University cross country team began the 2015 season by successfully battling windy conditions at the annual UW/SU Open Tuesday afternoon at Magnuson Park.
“Both the men’s and women’s teams showed today that the positive results from our time trial were indeed a good indication of what’s to come this year. Both teams looked strong and composed out there today. We will continue to build upon this with our sights set on October and November,” Seattle U head cross country coach Trisha Steidl said.
In the men’s 4.5-mile run, Gus Arroyo (Portland, Ore.) led the Redhawks and finished third overall with a time of 22:14.06, five seconds quicker than his time in last year’s race. Nathan McLaughlin (Puyallup, Wash.) finished right behind Arroyo in fourth place in 22:16.01. Baxter Arguinchona (Spokane, Wash.) also crossed the finish line in the top 10, placing 10th with a time of 22:19.18.
Chay Weaver (Louisville, Colo.) finished in 14th place with a time of 22:30.44, followed by fellow sophomore Ben Monk (Olympia, Wash.) in 17th place in 22:39.88. Joe Charbonneau (Bellingham, Wash.) crossed the finish line in 19th place in 22:48.38, just ahead of Tyler Flannery (Auburn, Wash.) in 20th place in 22:52.57 and Matthew Seidel (Santa Clara, Calif.) in 21st place in 22:55.37.
Competing in his first collegiate meet, Eli Boudouris (Portland, Ore.) finished in 23rd place in 23:14.86, just ahead of Collin Overbay (Spokane, Wash.) in 24th place in 23:14.93. Jacques Hebert (Honolulu, Hawaii) ended up in 26th place with a time of 23:22.71, followed by Cal Davidson-Turner (Sarasota, Fla.) in 28th place in 23:50.94 and Collin Olson (Newcastle, Wash.) in 29th place in 23:55.26.
“The top five finishers on the men’s team were faster than our second runner at this meet last year. That’s a great way to start off towards the goals we’ve set for the end of the season,” said Steidl.
In the women’s three-mile race, Lila Rice (Redmond, Wash.) was the first Seattle U competitor to complete the course, finishing 11th overall with a time of 16:56.57, over two seconds quicker than her mark in last year’s event. Moira O’Connor Lenth (Seattle, Wash.) finished 12th with a mark of 17:01.08, over a minute faster than her time in the 2014 edition of this meet.
Elena Smith (Seattle, Wash.) finished in 15th place with a time of 17:21.44, followed by Taylor de Laveaga (Gilbert, Ariz.) in 16th place in 17:26.53 and Olivia Stein (Portland, Ore.) in 17th place in 17:39.56. Johanna Erickson (Edgewood, Wash.) crossed the finish line in 20th place in 18:08.05, ahead of Emily Hedberg (Phoenix, Ariz.) in 21st place in 18:21.66 and Lindsay Frederick (Seattle, Wash.) in 22nd place in 18:22.08.
Besides Stein, two other Redhawks made their collegiate debuts, as Sarah Bliesner (Newcastle, Wash.) finished in 23rd place with a time of 18:31.09, followed by Kai Hoshijo (Honolulu, Hawaii) in 24th place with a mark of 18:47.16.
“The women’s team overall ran significantly faster this year than last. There is a big gap between our fifth and sixth runners right now that we know we need to lessen. That will be a point of focus for the ladies as we move through the season,” added Steidl.
Seattle University will stay close to home for its next meet, making the short drive to West Seattle for the Sundodger Invitational, hosted by the University of Washington Saturday, Sept. 19, at Lincoln Park.