RESULTS (PDF) - MEN | WOMEN

COLFAX, Wash. — The Portland State cross country program's return to the Palouse didn't produce the same highlights as in 2018, but the Viking men and women still showed flashes of improvements at the Cougar Classic, hosted by Washington State University, Friday at the Colfax Golf Course.
 
The Viking men's and women's teams each placed fifth in their respective races. That marked an improvement for the Viking men, who placed eighth out of nine teams last season, while the women fell in the standings after upsetting Washington State and Idaho to win the meet last season.
 
The men's move up the standings in the 8k was another indicator of their potential this season. Tighter bunching helped the Vikings improve their standing at the Viking Rust Buster last Saturday, and it helped again at the Cougar Classic Friday. The Vikings' entire top seven finished within a minute of each other for the second straight meet. Fifty-two seconds divided the Vikings' first- and seventh-place finishers Friday, six days after the Vikings had a 48-second split at the Viking Rust Buster.
 
Josh Snyder and Jason Rae stepped up to lead the Viking men, as both shaved more than 90 seconds or more off their times from last season's Cougar Classic. Snyder placed 34th in 25:19.4, more than two minutes better than his time of 27:24 at the 2018 Cougar Classic. Rae, meanwhile, placed 35th overall in 25:20.1, beating his time from last season by more than 90 seconds.
  
Freshman Brandon Hippe placed third in the Vikings' lineup at 42nd overall while finishing in 25:26.6. Sophomore Max Norman followed Hippe at 50th overall in 25:44.6, while Norman's classmate Drew Seidel rounded out the Vikings' top five by placing 53rd overall in 25:51.4.
 
Sophomore Luke Ramirez finished five seconds back of Seidel in 25:56.3 while placing 58th overall. Freshman Evan Peters followed Ramirez as the Vikings' seventh runner while finishing 66th overall in 26:11.3.
 
Twin brothers Andy and Erik Solano finished outside of the Vikings' top seven, but both improved their times from last season's Cougar Classic. Andy Solano shaved 85 seconds off his time from last season while finishing 70th overall in 26:20.2. Erik Solano, meanwhile, placed 82nd overall in 26:51.7 – 68 seconds better than his time last season.
 
Cody Jones shaved 55 seconds off his time from last season's Cougar Classic while setting a new 8k personal best. Jones placed 78th overall in 26:38.3, edging out his previous 8k personal best of 26:39.4, which he set at the Warner Pacific XC Classic last season.
 
Freshman Zac Witman also raced for the Viking men Friday, placing 79th overall in 26:45.2.
 
Three of the Viking women's runners bettered their times from last season's meet, including Delaney White, who finished second in the Vikings' lineup, behind sophomore Hunter Storm. Storm placed 19th overall in 22:07.8, while White finished two spots behind her at 21st in 22:10.2. White's time marked a 21-second improvement on her time from last season, and moved her up from seventh in the Vikings' lineup last season to second.
 
Phoebe Jacques followed White while placing 36th overall in 22:36.7, while Phoebe Brown followed Jacques at 41st overall in 22:45.1. Brown's time marked a 54-second improvement from her time last season, while her fourth-place finish in the Vikings' lineup marked a four-spot improvement.
 
Freshmen Zoe Andersen and Sophie Jones placed as the Vikings' fifth and sixth runners, respectively, while finishing 45th and 58th overall in 22:56.3 and 23:13.8.
 
Sophomore Monica Salazar added a third improved time from last season, as she finished 75th overall in 24:15.1. Sophomore Zoe Eberspecher crossed the line 3.5 seconds back of Salazar while finishing 76th overall in 24:18.6.
 
Freshman Carissa Rodriguez and sophomore Kristen Walker also finished 77th and 83rd overall, respectively, in times of 24:26.7 and 24:47.9.
 
The Vikings have three weeks off before their next race, as they won't compete again until heading to Salem, Ore., for the Charles Bowles Invitational on Oct. 5. The Viking men will open the meet with an 8k at 9:30 a.m., while the women follow with their first 5k of the season at 10:20 a.m.
 
Cougar Classic
Colfax Golf Course
Colfax, Wash.
Sept. 13, 2019
 
Women's Top Ten Finishers (6k):
1. Claire Manley, Gonzaga, 21:04.8; 2. Kyla Danforth, Loyola Marymount, 21:24.8; 3. Zorana Grujic, Washington State, 21:32.2; 4. Josie Brown, Washington State, 21:36.7; 5. Aimee Piercy, Unattached, 21:42.5; 6. Nathalia Campos, Idaho, 21:45.4; 7. Grace Fahrney, Gonzaga, 21:47.9; 8. Kelsey Swenson, Idaho, 21:47.9; 9. Kenzie Gaines, Eastern Washington, 21:48.2; 10. Jolene Whiteley, Spokane CC, 21:51.8.
 
Women's Team Scores:
1. Washington State, 43 points; 2. Gonzaga, 48 points; 3. Idaho, 64 points; 4. Loyola Marymount, 132 points; 5. Portland State, 134 points; 6. Seattle U, 149 points; 7. Eastern Washington, 150 points; 8. Whitworth, 252 points.
 
Portland State Runners (out of 99):
19. Hunter Storm, 22:07.8; 21. Delaney White, 22:10.2; 36. Phoebe Jacques, 22:36.7; 41. Phoebe Brown, 22:45.1; 45. Zoe Andersen, 22:56.3; 58. Sophie Jones, 23:13.8; 75. Monica Salazar, 24:15.1; 76. Zoe Eberspecher, 24:18.6; 77. Carissa Rodriguez, 24:26.7; 83. Kristen Walker, 24:47.9.
 
Men's Top Ten Finishers (8k):
1. James Mwaura, Gonzaga, 24:07.4; 2. Riley Moore, Unattached, 24:27.0; 3. Evan Bates, Unattached, 24:33.5; 4. Peter Hogan, Gonzaga, 24:37.3; 5. Phillip Fishburn, Gonzaga, 24:39.6; 6. Myles Bach, Unattached, 24:40.6; 7. Whelan John, Unattached, 24:42.1; 8. Matthew Watkins, Washington State, 24:42.9; 9. Colton Johnsen, Washington State, 24:43.7; 10. Luke Mason, Gonzaga, 24:45.2.
 
Men's Team Scores:
1. Gonzaga, 22 points; 2. Washington State, 45 points; 3. Idaho, 89 points; 4. Loyola Marymount, 137 points; 5. Portland State, 143 points; 6. Eastern Washington, 167 points; 7. Spokane CC, 168 points; 8. Seattle U, 193 points; 9. Whitworth, 300 points; 10. Walla Walla, 302 points.
 
Portland State Runners (out of 116):
34. Josh Snyder, 25:19.4; 35. Jason Rae, 25:20.1; 42. Brandon Hippe, 25:26.6; 50. Max Norman, 25:44.6; 53. Drew Seidel, 25:51.4; 58. Luke Ramirez, 25:56.3; 66. Evan Peters, 26:11.3; 70. Andy Solano, 26:20.2; 78. Cody Jones, 26:38.3; 79. Zac Witman, 26:45.2; 82. Erik Solano, 26:51.7.