September 22, 2005

On Saturday, September 24, 2005, Saint Martin’s will host the 5th Annual SMU Cross Country Invitational. The women’s 5,000 meter race begins at 10:00am followed by the 8,000 meter men’s race at 10:45am.

The Great Northwest Athletic Conference will be represented by Seattle Pacific University, Western Washington University, and Western Oregon University. Also competing will be the University of Victoria, Evergreen State College, Skagit Valley Community College, Bellevue Community College, and Highline Community College.

The SMU Invitational will prove to be a competitive meet and a great opportunity for the Saints harriers to see how they stack up against a high-quality field. The WWU men are the top ranked GNAC team in the Region and are ranked No.24 in the American Cross Country Coaches Association/NCAA Division II Poll released this week. SPU will also challenge as the reigning GNAC Champions.

Saints Head Coach Brad Hooper, quick to recognize the strength of the field states, “It will be a great test to see where we are at. University of Victoria is another high quality team, with a couple top guys that will give John (Riak) a run for his money.”

Riak (Fr., Lacey, WA) looks to have another outstanding race on the Saints home course. He was an honorable mention GNAC Runner-of-the-Week selection for his 15th overall finish, third among Division II runners, at the National Catholic Championships at Notre Dame on September 16th. He covered the five-mile course in a time of 25:43. His finish was the best-ever for a GNAC runner in the National Catholic meet, bettering a 22nd place finish last year by SMU’s Andy Prentice.

The women's side is equally packed. Legendary SPU Head Coach, Doris Heritage, has her women’s team running exceptionally well. The Falcons are ranked No. 14 Nationally among NCAA Division II women’s teams in the Coaches Poll announced Wednesday, which marks the highest ranking for the SPU cross country team since 2000.

Runners to watch in the women’s race are SPU standout, Meredith Crane, the early favorite for the GNAC title and WWU Vikings' Laura Trevellyan, a two-time All-American. SMU sensation, Janelle Probst (So., Spokane, WA – Mead), hopes to challenge Crane and Trevellyan for the top position. Probst was selected as the GNAC Female Runner-of-the-Week for her 38th place finish – sixth among Division II runners – at the National Catholic Championships at South Bend, Indiana on September 16th. Probst covered the 5,000-meter layout in a time of 19:26.