RESULTS

INDEPENDENCE, Ore. — The Portland State cross country program has emphasized team running in the early part of its season. Well, job done Saturday.
 
The Portland State women placed three runners in the top 10 of the women's 6k at Oak Knoll Loop Run while edging the University of Portland by a point in the team race, 40-41. Jamie Zamrin, Abi Swain and Emma Stolte – the same three that led the Vikings at the Linfield Harrier Classic on Sept. 1 – finished back-to-back-to-back at sixth through eighth to lead the women to the victory.
 
"Hats off to the Lady Viks today," Portland State head coach Jonathan Marcus said of the team's win. "Their commitment to running together as team early on set the stage for their win. It's fun and exciting seeing this team get better and better."
 
Zamrin led the trio with a time of 22:17.8, while Swain and Stolte followed in 22:24.5 and 22:24.6, respectively. Similar to their first race together two weeks ago, the trio ran a negative split, going out in 11:22 or so over the first 3k before closing in 11 minutes.
 
Laura Beghin followed the lead trio at 13th overall with a time of 22:47.7. Peyten Woodruff then closed out the team score in 23:08.3. Beghin's time represented close to a 30-second personal best over her time of 23:16.6 at last year's L&C Invite.
 
Taylor Nichols (25th, 223:32.8) and Sophie Jones (30th, 24:03.3) finished as the Vikings' sixth and seventh finishers, while Kynzie DeLeon (38th, 24:42.6), Campbell Faust (39th, 24:46.6), Addison Capozzi (40th, 24:54.3) and Dyllan Newville (42nd, 25:00.5) also raced Saturday. Newville was just off her 6k personal best of 25:00.2, set at last year's L&C Invite.
 
The day started for the Vikings with the men's 8k in which the Portland State men made their season debut.
 
Freshman Amir Ahmed led the Vikings despite running his first collegiate race and first 8k ever, as he finished 36th overall in 27:43.5. Four Vikings then finished with five spots of each other between Lyness Ota (56th, 30:39.9), Zach Grams (57th, 30:45.5), Abdi Ibrahim (58th, 30:45.6) and Zach Salcido (60th, 31:10.1). Those four closed out the Vikings' team score where they placed seventh with 207 total points.
 
Edward Niyongere, a sprinter during the track season, also ran his first-ever cross country race for the Vikings, finishing 65th overall in 37:35.8.
 
"The men's team took a step in the right direction," Marcus said after the race. "Several of the guys ran the first cross country race of lives, and today's race provided an excellent learning opportunity.
 
"Spirits were high and everyone was highly supportive of each other, which was great to see."
 
The Vikings will return to the Salem area in two weeks for the Charles Bowles Invitational on Sept. 30. Before that, the Vikings will race again at the Mike Johnson Classic on Sept. 22.
 
The goals there will be the same. Run together as a team and continue to show improvement. Considering Saturday's results, the Vikings are on the right track in both regards.
 
Oak Knoll Loop Run
Oak Knoll Golf Course
Independence, Ore.
Sept. 16, 2023
 
Women's Top Ten Finishers (6k):
1. Kayla Aalpoel, George Fox, 21:51.1; 2. Brionna Holso, Unattached, 21:51.2; 3. Stina Pettersson, Portland, 22:07.8; 4. Katie Kopec, Unattached, 22:11.7; 5. Ellie Rising, George Fox, 22:16.7; 6. Jamie Zamrin, Portland State, 22:17.8; 7. Abi Swain, Portland State, 22:24.5; 8. Emma Stolte, Portland State, 22:24.6; 9. Tait Rowley, Portland, 22:30.2; 10. Zoe Heino, Willamette, 22:36.0.
 
Women's Team Scores (6k):
1. Portland State, 40 points; 2. Portland, 41 points; 3. George Fox, 48 points; 4. Linfield, 115 points; 5. Willamette, 125 points; 6. Umpqua CC, 190 points.
 
Portland State Runners (out of 64):
6. Jamie Zamrin, 22:17.8; 7. Abi Swain, 22:24.5; 8. Emma Stolte, 22:24.6; 13. Laura Beghin, 22:47.7; 21. Peyten Woodruff, 23:08.3; 25. Taylor Nichols, 23:32.8; 30. Sophie Jones, 24:03.3; 38. Kynzie DeLeon, 24:42.6; 39. Campbell Faust, 24:46.6; 40. Addison Capozzi, 24:54.3; 42. Dyllan Newville, 25:00.5.
 
Men's Top Ten Finishers (8k):
1. Robert Swoboda, Corban, 25:01.7; 2. Lakelin Conrad, Portland, 25:08.0; 3. Nathan Stein, Unattached, 25:14.4; 4. Jacob Hupke, Unattached, 25:16.2; 5. Brady Martisus, Portland, 25:17.3; 6. Anthony Giesch, Unattached, 25:17.6; 7. Connor Kennedy, Portland, 25:31.5; 8. Evan Delacruz, Portland, 25:33.7; 9. Jack Gladfelter, Corban, 25:35.6; 10. Steven Durr, Portland, 25:37.2.
 
Men's Team Scores (8k):
1. Portland, 21 points; 2. Corban, 49 points; 3. George Fox, 72 points; 4. Willamette, 108 points; 5. Linfield, 118 points; 6. Clackamas CC, 184 points; 7. Portland State, 207 points; 8. Umpqua CC, 207 points.
 
Portland State Runners (out of 65):
36. Amir Ahmed, 27:43.5; 56. Lyness Ota, 30:39.9; 57. Zach Grams, 30:45.5; 58. Abdi Ibrahim, 30:45.6; 60. Zach Salcido, 31:10.1; 65. Edward Niyongere, 37:35.8.