2015 Performance List

PORTLAND - The 2015 cross country season presented some immediate challenges for Portland State's runners. The Vikings did not have a coaching staff in place until a few weeks before the season started. Considering that, the season wound up being a success for the Vikings.
 
"We definitely made progress. It is always tough when you go through a transition like that. They were all on a different program when we got them," head coach Brent Ericksen said. "We finished better in the Big Sky than where we were picked, so I'm happy about that."
 
The season did yield some satisfying sendoffs for a few seniors, and gave the new coaching staff reason for optimism going forward.
 
The year was highlighted by senior Amanda Boman's sensational season. In her cross country swan song, Boman solidified herself as one of the premiere runners in the Big Sky conference.
 
Boman was the Vikings' fastest woman in every event she ran in. In the final two meets of the regular season – the Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational and Emerald City Open – Boman claimed first place. Her performances led the Vikings to the team victory in each of those races.
 
Boman carried that momentum into the Big Sky Championships in Cedar City, Utah on Halloween. She earned all-conference honors by placing 10th overall, becoming just the second Portland State woman to crack the top 10 in more than 15 years. Boman finished in the top 75 at the NCAA West Regionals two weeks later.
 
As a whole, the Portland State women took eighth place at the Big Sky Championships and 21st at the West Regional.
 
Despite the loss of senior Boman, the Vikings have a lot to look forward to next season. Aside from Boman, the other six athletes to run at the conference and regional championships – Sarah Medved, Kaila Ann Gibson, Cheryn Trapp, Nevina De Luca, Jocelyn Reynolds and Kennedy Martin – will be back next season. Three of those six competed as underclassmen this season.
 
The season was a bit more up and down for the Portland State men who placed ninth at the conference championships. A mix of departing seniors and rising sophomores, and one junior to bridge the gap, provided the Vikings' ups.
 
Senior Aaron Campbell showed as much improvement as anyone and became the top performer for the Portland State men by season's end. He placed 21st at the Big Sky Championships and 125th at the West Regional.
 
Fellow seniors John Talik, Neil Seibert and Spencer Russell also made an impact, all three of which competed at regionals.
Sophomores Alex Cisneros and Justin Wikler showed they will be staples on the team for the next couple seasons. Cisneros finished just five spots back of Campbell at the Big Sky Championships, and Wikler was one of the five best Vikings in most races.
 
Joining Cisneros and Wikler back on the course next season will be the lone junior on the 2015 roster, Ben Richardson. He placed 56th at the conference championship meet.
 
Other than that, the 2016 men's team will have a handful of freshmen contributing.
 
"Everybody, both men and women, was up for embracing what we were trying to put in place. It was tough, but they made the best of it. By the end of the season, I think everyone had bought in completely," assistant coach Dennis McCaffrey said. "We're excited about next season. It will be nice to have most of the same athletes for a whole season."
 
Several of the athletes from the men's and women's teams are already gearing up for the indoor track and field season which begins in January.