Simon Fraser University finished seventh for a second consecutive season at the NCAA Division II women’s cross-country championships.
The Great Northwest conference and West Region champion Clan women, finished ahead of all regional competitors for a third straight meet, edging Alaska Anchorage for seventh with an overall team time of 1:51.39.9 at Tom Sawyer Park in Louisville, Kentucky on Saturday.
“We can’t be disappointed finishing seventh because we were the No. 1 team in the region,” said SFU head coach Brit Townsend. “The course was slow, wet and muddy, so it was tailor-made for the tough mudders. We are a team of track athletes running cross-country, so the course really slowed us down.”
Grad student Jennifer Johnson and sophomore Rebecca Bassett both earned All-American status, finishing 24th and 35th, respectively over the 5.78-kilometre distance.
Johnson placed in the top-25 in a time of 21:57.10, while Bassett improved on her finish from last year’s 134th placing.
SFU also had strong showings from the other team runners. Junior Kansas MacKenzie placed 45th, sophomore Peggy Noel was 49th and freshman Miryam Bassett finished 72nd in a time of 22:05.80.
Grand Valley State sophomore Kendra Foley was the individual women’s champion in a winning time of 21:05.80. Grand Valley also won the women’s team title.
The unseeded SFU men’s team finished in 20th place overall.
Oliver Jorgensen led the Clan, placing 75th overall in a time of 32:18.20 in the 9.65km race.
“Our guys … set a goal to make nationals this year, were unranked coming in, and then ran tough and strong to surprise everyone,” Townsend said.
SFU freshman Marc-Antoine Rouleau finished 110th and Cameron Proceviat of Burnaby was right behind in 111th in the field of 245 runners.
Tabor Stevens of overall team champion Adams State won the men’s race in a time of 30:02.00.
