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LACEY, Wash. (Oct. 21) ­ Jessica Pixler remained unbeaten and 10th-ranked Seattle Pacific University pushed four of the first nine runners across the finish line to successfully defend its Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's cross country championship Saturday on the campus of Saint Martin's University.

The Falcons finished 10 points ahead of Alaska Anchorage, 34-44, for their third title in four years and eighth overall. Western Washington won the men's crown but SPU took a respectable third.

Pixler (Fr., Sammamish, Wa./Eastlake), who rejoined the soccer team for its 3 p.m. home game, won for the third time in as many outings, beating Anchorage's Mandy Kaempf by 3 seconds over the 6000 meters in 21:11. It was Pixler's first race since Sept. 23.

Seattle Pacific supported Pixler's effort with both quality and depth. Seven harriers were among the top 15. The Falcons have not finished behind a Div. II team this season.

Mary Moriarty (So., Seattle, Wa./Ballard) ran sixth in 21:55 and Karin Rohde (Jr., Bellingham, Wa./Mt. Baker) was next in22:03. Jane Larson (Fr., Fall City, Wa./Cedar Park Christian) was ninth (22:26) and Suzie Strickler (So., Richland, Wa.) was the fifth scorer, taking 11th in 22:34. All those in the top 10 make the all-conference teamPixler was also voted the freshman of the year. She became the Falcons' eighth conference winner in the last 12 years..

David Kiplagat, of Alaska Anchorage, who finished second last year as a freshman, won the men's 8k event by a 21-second margin in 24:28. Western Washington's five scorers were all among the top 11.

Seattle Pacific's Bjorn Bostrom (Sr., La Conner, Wa./Bellingham) made the all-GNAC team by placing ninth in 25:30, and his team was a solid third, 18 points in front of Western Oregon.

The other four SPU scorers all finished in the top 27 places. Brian Cronrath (Jr., Battle Ground, Wa.) was 14th in 25:45, Chad Meis (Fr., Renton, Wa./Seattle Christian) 18th (25:55), James Rosser (Sr., Seattle, Wa./Highline) 22nd (25:59) and Doug Gibson (Sr., Yakima, Wa./Riverside Christian) 27th (26:16).

Several runners will go to the Bellevue Community College Invitational next week but the balance of the squads will rest until the NCAA Division II West Regional in Oroville, Calif., Nov. 4.

GNAC Cross Country Championships

• Men:
  • Team Scores - Western Washington 35, Alaska Anchorage 53, Seattle Pacific 86, Western Oregon 104, Central Washington 117, Saint Martin's 169, Seattle University 213, Alaska Fairbanks 24
  • Individuals (8,000 Meters) -1. David Kiplagat, UAA, 24:28.27; 2. Sam Scotchmer, CWU, 24:49.85; 3. Anthony Tomsich, WWU, 25:06.57; 4. John Riak, SMU, 25:07.77; 5. Aaron Dickson, UAA, 25:12.48; 6. Chad Portwood, WWU, 25:18.98; 7. Keever Henry, WWU, 25:26.63; 8. Cale McCullogh,WWU, 25:29.75; 9. Bjorn Bostrom, SPU, 25:30.15; 10. Brent Knight, UAA, 25:33.38.4, Northwest Nazarene 245.
• Women:
  • Team Scores - Seattle Pacific 34, Alaska Anchorage 44, Central Washington 93, Western Washington 113, Alaska Fairbanks 127, Western Oregon 131, Saint Martin's 195, Northwest Nazarene 203, Seattle University 252.
  • Individuals (6,000 Meters) - 1. Jessica Pixler, SPU, 21:11; 2. Mandy Kaempf, UAA, 21:14; 3. Katie Hummel, CWU, 21:18; 4. Rachel Bailey, CWU, 21:39; 5. Elizabeth Chepkosgei, UAA, 21:50; 6. Mary Moriarty, SPU, 21:56; 7. Karin Rohde, SPU, 22:04; 8. Laura Carr, UAA, 22:24; 9. Jane Larson, SPU, 22:27; 10. Ashley Puga, NNU, 22:28.