October 5, 2005

The Saints Cross Country team competed at the 31st Annual Willamette Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 1st at McGiver Park in Salem, Oregon. The Saint men finished in 18th place, and the Saint women finished in 20th.

SMU standout, John Riak (Fr., Lacey, WA) finished in 17th place overall. “John was on pace to break Andy Prentice's school record of 25:04 for 8k, but slowed in the last ½ mile,” said Saints coach Brad Hooper. Riak finished with a mark of 25:12 in the 8,000 meter run, leading the pack of Great Northwest Athletic Conference harriers. Riak was able to outlast Humboldt State University sensation, Brian Kostok, national cross country qualifier a season ago, who finished with a time of 25:17.

Coach Hooper was not satisfied with the overall performance, however, of his men’s squad. “The men's team unfortunately did not have a very good race as a collective group. We had some good races out of a few individuals, but I thought with a couple minor adjustments in the race we could have placed in the top 10.”

Tris O’Bluck (Jr., Mukawango, WI) recorded a season best 26:57 as the second Saint to cross the finish line. Tristan Beach (Fr., Tacoma, WA) ran nearly a two minute personal best, advancing from the 8th position to the 5th on the varsity roster with a time of 27:39. Rich Thomas (Fr., Boise, ID) also had a one minute personal best of 27:50, moving into the “varsity seven” with the performance.

Janelle Probst (So., Spokane, WA) led the women’s team by completing her 5,000 meters in a time of 18:55 for 35th place overall. For the first time in SMU history, Probst has posted marks under 19 minutes for three races this season. Katelynn Blume (Jr., Lacey, WA) ran her best race of the season at 23:11. “The women ran exceptionally well. Each week I grow more and more impressed with the women. They race really smart, and hard,” said Hooper.

Chelsi Claussen (Jr., Shelton, WA), one of the best sprinters in the GNAC (conference meet record holder for 60-meters and conference champion for the 400-meter hurdles) broke the 21-minute barrier as she finished with a mark of 20:59. Coach Hooper is quick to recognize the talent of his #5 runner, “I am blown away with the transition she has made from Track to Cross Country. She is one talented athlete.”

The Saints are back in action on October 8th as they race in the Evergreen Invitational in Olympia, WA. “Next week is yet another opportunity for us to continue improving,” said Hooper. The Saints hope to use this week-end as preparation for the GNAC Championship Meet on Oct. 22 in Bellingham, WA.