PORTLAND – Seattle U cross country start off its 2022 season on a sunny Friday morning at the Portland State Rust Buster meet at Westmoreland Park in Portland. The women's team came away with a second place finish, while the men finish third.
"The women raced and performed really well today" said Head Coach Kelly Sullivan "The women's team is a fairly inexperienced group, and it is very impressive to see how close their 1 to 6 spread is. The men have some work to do and they know it. They raced without two of their top runners, but they will both be back for the next race."
The women's team was led by freshman Azalea Groleau, in Groleau's first official cross-country race for the Redhawks, she finished strong with a sixth-place finish in the 5k race with a time of 18:50.1. Finishing right behind Groleau was sophomore McKenna White, White finished seventh in a time of 18:53.9, which is over a one-minute PR in the 5k for her. Lilianne Hargreaves was the next finisher for the Redhawks, placing 11th with a time of 19:11.2, which is also a personal best for her as well. The women's team finished second at the meet, scoring 43 points, and having a 1 to 6 spread of just 45 seconds.
Graduate transfer Hezekiah Goodwin led the charge for the men's team. Goodwin put up a time of 20:26.6 in the 6k race in his debut for the Redhawks. Parker Wagnild also made an impressive debut, finishing in 20:49.13 in his first ever collegiate race. The men finished third at the meet, scoring 88 points, but were without juniors Lance Mason and Alex Franklin, who will provide more depth for the men's team at the next race.
WOMEN 5K RESULTS
- Azalea Groleau – 18:50.1
- McKenna White – 18:53.9
- Lilianne Hargreaves - 19:11.2
- Grace Much – 19:20.9
- Emily Harris – 19:21.1
- Caitlyn O'Neil - 19:35.5
MENS 6K RESULTS
- Hezekiah Goodwin – 20:26.6
- Parker Wagnild – 20:49.13
- Gus Harquail – 21:26.41
- Khalid Hirsi – 21:34.2
- Alex Jensen – 21:46.58
The Redhawks will have four weeks to prepare for their next race, the Charles Bowles Invitational hosted by Willamette, in Salem, Oregon, on October 2.
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