Men, women place 10th, 12th at cross country nationals

Western Washington University used a tight pack to place 10th in the men's division, its fourth straight top 10 finish, and the Viking women used much the same strategy to finish 12th at the 2011 NCAA Division II Cross Country National Championships held Saturday in snowy, 29-degree weather at the Plantes Ferry Sports Complex.

The WWU men, making a fifth straight national appearance, improved 10 spots over their No.22 national ranking in the latest United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches/NCAA II Top 25. The Viking women, who had placed among the top 10 in each of the last three years, improved two spots as they entered the meet rated No.14.

Western State CO easily won the men's championship in the 24-team field with a 27-69 advantage over runner-up and top-ranked Adams State CO. Augustana SD edged No.1-rated Western State, 75-79, for the women's title among 24 teams.

"It was a total team effort this year for both squads," said Western coach Pee Wee Halsell (25th year). "They had to do it as a team as we didn't have the front runners like in seasons past."

"Every kid went in there, put it on the line, and did the absolute best possible."

Two transfers, Dak Riek (So., Everett/Mariner) from CC of Spokane and Tyler Cannon (Jr., Kennewick/Kamiakin) from Brigham Young, led the Viking men. Riek, who was battling bronchitis, placed 50th, covering the 10-kilometer course in 32:37.5, and Cannon was 54th with a 32:41.6 clocking.

"Dak had been sick all week and for him to do that was amazing," Halsell said.

Two weeks ago at the West Regional held on the same course, Cannon had a similar illness and finished 47th.

Read the rest of this story on the website for WWU Athletics.