RESULTS

MCMINNVILLE, Ore. — The three-day Labor Day weekend lets us all ease out of summer and into fall. In the same way, the Portland State cross country program eased into its 2023 fall season with a solid but relaxed showing at the Linfield Harrier Classic Friday.
 
The Vikings only raced nine runners in the women's 4k at Joe Dancer Park. Those nine all raced together for the first half of the race before letting loose over the latter half.
 
Even with that relaxed start, the Vikings placed fifth out of 13 teams, with only 23 seconds separating the team's first and fifth finishers. That type of spread will bode well for the Vikings later in the season, as will how some of the Vikings ran the race.
 
"The women did a fantastic job today," new Portland State head coach Jonathan Marcus said afterwards. "Good vibes, good teamwork, and good times all around."
 
Jamie Zamrin, Emma Stolte and Abi Swain all finished on each other's hips to lead the Viking women. Zamrin placed 33rd overall in 15:00.9 to lead the Vikings, a second ahead of Stolte and Swain who finished in 34th and 35th, respectively, in times of 15:01.9 and 15:02.1.
 
All three ran the race differently. Zamrin and Stolte were at the front of the Viking pack throughout. Swain, meanwhile, started conservatively before jumping the majority of the field over the latter half of the race.
 
Taylor Nichols fell just off the team's lead pack, finishing 39th in 15:15.6. Laura Beghin followed two spots behind Nichols at 41st in 15:23.2, rounding out the team score.
 
Peyten Woodruff nearly cracked the team's top five, as she finished two spots and eight seconds behind Beghin at 43rd in 15:31.7. Sophie Jones followed at 63rd in 16:14.8, while Campbell Faust and Dyllan Newville finished back-to-back at 84th and 85th, respectively, in times of 17:00.3 and 17:07.0.
 
The Vikings' approach at the Linfield Harrier Classic Friday will model most of the other regular-season meets this season. Marcus has said he plans to use the regular-season meets to experiment and tinker with things before the counting races at the Big Sky Championships and NCAA West Regional.
 
To that end, the next round of experiments comes at the Oak Knoll Loop Run in Salem, Ore., on Sept. 16. Until then, the Vikings will appreciate the easing into the cross country season that they got Friday.
 
Linfield Harrier Classic
Joe Dancer Park
McMinnville, Ore.
Sept. 1, 2023
 
Women's Top Ten Finishers (4k):
1. Katie Clute, Oregon, 13:26.6; 2. Anika Thompson, Oregon, 13:29.3; 3. Sage Brooks, Oregon State, 13:30.1; 4. Melissa Berry, Oregon, 13:30.9; 5. Ruby Broadbent, Unattached, 13:32.1; 6. Abigail Pradere, Oregon State, 13:51.9; 7. Kate Laurent, Oreogn State, 13:56.9; 8. Azalea Groleau, Seattle U, 13:57.1; 9. Tiahna Woodger, Portland, 14:06.9; 10. Emily Harris, Seattle U, 14:07.6.
 
Women's Team Scores (4k):
1. Oregon State, 36 points; 2. Oregon, 40 points; 3. Seattle U, 77 points; 4. Portland, 88 points; 5. Portland State, 135 points; 6. Pacific (Ore.), 172 points; 7. Clark College, 208 points; 8. Western Oregon, 225 points; 9. Willamette, 241 points; 10. George Fox, 263 points; 11. Lane CC, 268 points; 12. Linfield, 307 points; 13. Everett CC, 362 points.
 
Portland State Runners (out of 112):
33. Jamie Zamrin, 15:00.9; 34. Emma Stolte, 15:01.9; 35. Abi Swain, 15:02.1; 39. Taylor Nichols, 15:15.6; 41. Laura Beghin, 15:23.2; 43. Peyten Woodruff, 15:31.7; 63. Sophie Jones, 16:14.8; 84. Campbell Faust, 17:00.3; 85. Dyllan Newville, 17:07.0.