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P R IN T : Backpage
Wednesday, November 13,2013
XC: Cougars dominate region
the Cougars.
“It was alright, it was a hard
Jessica Mildes of Spokane race, it wasn’t easy,” said Repp.
At noon, an hour after the
CC placed first in the wom
en’s 5 kilometer race with a women’s race began, the men
time of 17:51. Freshman Kjra were off. After the first bend
Norton followed closely behind in the trail Cougar Badane
Repp; she finished second for Sultessa was at the lead of the
Clackamas and placed 32nd pack with only one runner in
with a time of 20:44. Also front of him.
“After the third mile the
close-after was Clackamas’
Jessie Hansen, scoring 35th other group took off,” said
Sultessa. “Our plan was to
with 21:01.
“Jessie Hansen had a pretty work together, but right when
good race, she looked good the race started we got sepa
today,” said Cougar cross-coun rated.”
The men’s eight kilometer
try director Keoni McHone.
Kylee Johnson .earned 39th race was a grueling fast pace.
with 21:21. Grace Klovski Clackamas’ runners struggled
placed 49th at 22:16. Falisha to stay ahead. The cold weather
Aho got 58th at 23:03 and and the pressure of NWAACC
Allison Pugsley earned 60th championships were factors to
with 23:21, finishing 7th for be considered for the racers.
“Everyone is nervous, you
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The men rush past fans as they complete the first circle o f the race.
kind of have to use those
nerves to your advantage,” said
Gil-Juarez.
Sultessa finished second for
the team and sixth in the race
with 24:45. Third across the
finish line for Clackamas was
week six NWAACC athlete of
the week Bake Benthin, who
finished 14th at 25:16. Austin
Peila placed 22nd. at 25:40.
Danny Robertson earned 25th
with 25:53. Jackson Baker was
27th in 26 flat. Scott Schmitt
came in seventh for the Cougars
and 45th out of the 68 placing
runners at 26:37.
The Cougars men’s team
placed third in the champi
onships; the women placed
sixth. As a whole, the men and
women ranked fourth in the
combined result.
“The season was really
good,” said Sultessa. “The
team was the best I ever had,
better than last year.”
Sultessa
earned
the
NWAACC athlete of the week
award for week eight. Also
awarded an NWAACC athlete
of the week title was Gil-Juarez
for week one. Gil-Juarez was
happy with the cross-country
season, but like many others he
is now getting mentally geared-
up for track pre-season train
ing.
“Cross went amazing this
year and if track goes well
too I might think about going
to Oklahoma State,” said Gil-
Juarez- “They have a good
animal science program and
a good steeplechase program.
Steeplechase is my event.”
Also eying track season is
Sultessa, who runs the 800-
meter and 1500-meter races in
track. Even though he is an
outstanding distance runner, he
prefers a firm, consistent track
over bumpy, winding trails.
“My focus is track,” said
Sultessa. “Everybody takes two
weeks off, then we start prac
ticing for track.”
Head coach Kaitlyn Reid
has lead the Cougars through
a very successful season of
cross country. She was awarded
head coach of the year hon
ors at the Southern Region
Championships. On home turf
the Cougar men’s team won
and the women, took sixth.
“We had a really good sea
son,” said Repp.
The NWAACC champion
ship was a close race, but the
Cougars remain dominant in
the Southern Region.
Nearing the finish line the men end a good season taking third in NWAACC championships.