The Falcons Online -- Seattle Pacific University Athletics

Cross Country Teams Prep for GNAC Meet
Falcon women rise to No. 9 in national rankings; Moriarty grabs GNAC award
October 4, 2006

Trail mix
Moriarty was selected as the GNAC runner of the week after Saint Martin’s. Pixler had won the award the previous two weeks...Runners from 10 schools are competing in Bellingham, which is the hometown of a handful of SPU harriers. Canada’s Simon Fraser will prove a tough test for the Seattle Pacific women, who have won two of the last three team titles, including last season. Alaska Anchorage, British Columbia, Central Washington, Evergreen, Saint Martin’s and Seattle University are also entered. Moriarty and Rohde were sixth and ninth, respectively, lat year. The men were second to the host Vikings after winning in ‘04. This week will be the only 10k for the men prior to the West Regional...Doug Gibson (Sr., Yakima, Wa.) who had rolled an ankle at the Sundodger meet, was back at Saint Martin’s, taking third on the team and 22nd overall. His time of 27:27 was a 5-second improvement over ‘05...The women’s win at Saint Martin’s was the first since 2002. They had finished second a year ago, when the course was 5k. In all, eight women finished among the top 20
*The Fragile Champion,* continues to be available. It is the story of the Falcons’ coach, Doris Heritage, and her unlikely rise to world prominence is detailed by her longtime coach and colleague, Dr. Ken Foreman in his book, . The book is now available for purchase, with a portion of the proceeds going toward the Heritage and/or Foreman Athletic Endowments. Click for details.

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Back in the race. It’s back to business for the Seattle Pacific University cross country teams as they ramp-up their season in preparation for the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships and beyond. The Falcons run the 33rd annual Western Washington Invitational Saturday (Oct. 7) at Bellingham’s Lake Padden Park. The ladies will cover 6000 meters and the gentlemen a 10k for the first time. They will train through next week and resume competition Oct. 21 with the GNAC meet in Lacey.

Climb another notch. Although the last couple meets were inconsequential compared to the first couple races of the season, Seattle Pacific still managed to climb a rung on the women’s national ladder, and they are now No. 9 in the coaches poll. With regard to the West Region, SPU is in the lead, followed by Chico State, UC San Diego and Alaska Anchorage. The men are 10th.

Last time out. Led by Mary Moriarty’s (So., Seattle, Wa./Ballard) runner-up finish, the women won for the second time in three outings Sept. 23 at the Saint Martin’s Invitational. Running on the same course to be used for the GNAC Championships, the Falcons easily beat Club Northwest, 26-65, and five college teams–four from the GNAC. The SPU men finished fourth behind Alaska Anchorage, Western Oregon and Western Washington. Club Northwest’s Linda Huyck won the women’s 6000 event in 21 minutes, 34 seconds. Moriarty took second place in 22:12 and was followed across the line by teammates Karin Rhode (Jr., Bellingham, Wa./Mt. Baker) and Jane Larson (Fr., Fall City, Wa./Cedar Park Christian) in 22:31 and 22:39, respectively. Suzie Strickler (So., Richland, Wa.) ran eighth (23:10) and

Kate Harline (Fr., Orem, Ut.) ninth (23:10).

Less than loaded. Both the men’s and women’s teams have been shy of a full load the past couple weeks. Jessica Pixler (Fr., Sammamish, Wa./Eastlake), who won her first two meets, is off until the GNAC meet. She’s now back with the soccer team. The men were without Bjorn Bostrom (Sr., La Conner, Wa./Bellingham) and Eddie Strickler (Sr., Richland, Wa.) at Saint Martin’s. Bostrom had been the top scorer in the first two meets and Strickler is a regular member of the top five. Carlo Lozano (Jr., Seattle, Wa./Blanchet), last year’s team MVP, is doubtful for action this fall due to an Achilles injury. In Lacey, Brian Cronrath (Jr., Battle

Ground, Wa.) was the top SPU scorer, taking 10th in 26:36–24 seconds ahead of the previous year. James Rosser (Sr., Seattle, Wa./Highline) was next at 13th (26:47). John Riak of SMU won the men’s 8k for the second year in a row in 25:09.

Coaching Staff. Coach Doris Heritage (29th year) has guided the SPU women to 10 top-10 national finishes and conference titles in seven of the last 11 years. The men won the ‘04 crown. In 1996 the Falcons won the West Region and her teams finished as high as second in the AIAW (1979, ‘80) and third in the NCAA (1983, ‘86) championships. Twenty harriers have been All-America, including two national champions. The world’s premier distance runner of the Sixties, she won five consecutive world cross country titles from 1967-71, and was a member of the 1968 and ‘72 U.S. Olympic teams. Former SPU runner Erika Daligcon and physics professor Lane Seeley are the assistant coaches.

Missing links. For the latest and best information on Seattle Pacific University athletics, stay where you're at -- on The Falcons Online. For updated standings and statistics, see the Great Northwest Athletic Conference web site.