SEATTLE – (Oct. 26) The 2016 Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Cross Country Championships are coming to Seattle.
Saturday, Seattle University hosts the men’s and women’s championships at Jefferson Park Golf Course in Seattle, Wash.
“It’s great,” head coach Trisha Steidl said. “We know the course very well. We’ve raced on it many times.”
Seattle U had even hosted the WAC Championships on the same course in 2013, when the women took second place and the men took fourth.
“It’s a short trip from campus to there,” Steidl said. “It’s really nice to be hosting and have such a great venue. It’s truly fabulous.”
Steidl gave a special shoutout to Paul Wilkinson and Jefferson Park Golf Course.
“I appreciate their support of our sport over the past few years,” Steidl said.
On Oct. 25, the WAC announced the men’s and women’s Pre-Championship Coaches’ Polls. The men are tied for third place with 24 points, and the women were also picked third with 33 points.
2016 Pre-Championship Men's Cross Country Coaches' Poll
| Rank | Team (1st place votes) | Points |
| 1 | Utah Valley (6) | 36 |
| 2 | UMKC (1) | 28 |
| 3 | New Mexico St. | 24 |
| Seattle U | 24 | |
| 5 | Grand Canyon | 17 |
| 6 | UTRGV | 12 |
| 7 | Chicago St. | 6 |
2016 Pre-Championship Women's Cross Country Coaches' Poll
| Rank | Team (1st place votes) | Points |
| 1 | Utah Valley (6) | 48 |
| 2 | New Mexico St. | 38 |
| 3 | Seattle U (1) | 33 |
| 4 | Grand Canyon | 32 |
| UTRGV (1) | 32 | |
| 6 | UMKC | 21 |
| 7 | CSU Bakersfield | 13 |
| 8 | Chicago St. | 7 |
Only nine runners from each team can represent their school at the Conference Championship. Steidl announced her team earlier in the week based off performances this season at Emerald City and the Beaver Classic:
Men – sophomore Eli Boudouris, senior Joe Charbonneau, senior Tyler Flannery, junior Jacques Hebert, redshirt senior Nathan McLaughlin, junior Ben Monk, junior Collin Olson, junior Matthew Seidel, junior Chay Weaver, and sophomore Cal Davidson-Turner (alternate).
“The guys have had the goal all year of winning,” Steidl said. “This year, they respect what it means to be able to try to win. They respect the competition, respect the work it takes to win it.”
Women – junior Johanna Erickson, freshman Thea Foulk, freshman Shannan Higgins, freshman Anastasia Honea, newcomer Abbigayle Kohmetscher, redshirt senior Rebecca Lassere, senior Moira O’Connor Lenth, senior Lila Rice, sophomore Olivia Stein, and freshman Siobhan Rubio (alternate).
“I think we definitely have high expectations,” Steidl said. “The reality is our returners are really strong, and our (newcomers) have been progressing. Getting top three is going to be hard…we need to have everyone firing on all cylinders.”
Steidl used the word “grit” to describe what she needs to see from both the men and women for them to have strong races and finish as a team.
At this point of the season, she said all the teams are similarly fit. It all comes down to mentality.
“Who’s willing to get uncomfortable, dig down deep, hurt, battle,” Steidl passionately questioned. “We’ve seen a lot of really good stuff, we just need everyone to come together on the same day…If they can harness that this weekend, then the sky’s the limit.”
Steidl jotted down a couple more notes, ensuring she remembers to tell her team a final few things she needs them to know before race day.
“We have so much potential to do great things.”