PORTLAND, Ore. — School started this week at Portland State University, and yet the student-athletes within the Portland State cross country program already have an exam. It's either a midterm or final for the Vikings, depending on results from this Saturday's Charles Bowles Invitational at Bush Park in Salem.
 
It'll be a midterm for those athletes who take the opportunity to prove they're worthy of a spot on the teams going to the final three meets of the season, the Bronco Invitational, Big Sky Championships and NCAA West Regional. For everyone else, it'll be a final as head coach Joseph Blue will cut his travel roster to 6-8 athletes for those final three meets.
 
"This is the last proving ground. After this, we are who we are. We'll find that out Saturday," Blue said.
 
Some athletes have already proven their case. Emma Stolte and Taylor Nichols won't race Saturday, having finished 1-2 for the Viking women at each of the previous three meets this season. Stolte recorded her third straight top 10 finish at the Mike Johnson Classic last Saturday, placing fourth overall and first among collegiate runners at the meet. Nichols, meanwhile, added her third top 15 finish of the season by placing 13th overall.
 
That leaves the door open for the rest of the Viking women to prove themselves this Saturday. Sam Sharp has placed third in the Vikings' lineup at all three meets so far this season, including a top 10 finish at the Ash Creek Festival on Sept. 12.
 
Irina López finished fourth in the Vikings' lineup this past Saturday, a seasonal best which drew praise from Coach Blue.
 
"That's the hardest I've ever seen her compete," Blue said of López at the Mike Johnson Classic. "She felt it, too. She was like, 'I'm back, coach!' She was excited about that."
 
Freshmen Libby Fox and Sonja Jones have ranged between fourth and sixth within the Vikings' lineup this season. Emily Schmitke, Riley Amarillas, Hannah Butterfield and Talise Wapsheli will also be competing for the last few spots.
 
"I talked to them after last meet, 'you guys did well but I want to see you guys do more of the routine things great.' When it comes to warming up, when it comes to cooling down, when it comes to being together, I want to see that more. I'm not really looking at your times right now. I'm looking at how you perform and how hard you're competing," Blue said.
 
"I always expect them to show heart, run their hardest and leave it all out there. That's what we expect every meet."
 
The Viking men battled through their first 8k last Saturday, which was a large step up in distance for a team that has had four freshmen place in its top five at two of their three meets this season.
 
The Vikings' entire top five at last Saturday's Mike Johnson Classic hadn't run an 8k before. That included sophomore Luke Gillingham, who only ran two races – both 6k's – last year as a freshman.
 
Freshman Farhan Ibrahim led the youthful Viking men with a 33rd-place finish in 25:01.90. Fellow freshman Ari Smith ran with Gillingham to place 50th and 51st, respectively, in times of 25:28.30 and 25:29.20.
 
Senior Abdinajib Abade should provide a veteran presence for the Viking men in what will be his season debut Saturday. Abade hasn't raced in a Viking uniform since the Big Sky Indoor Championships back in February, having redshirted the outdoor season and joining the Vikings a few weeks into the cross country season.
 
Abade holds an 8k personal best almost identical to Ibrahim's time last Saturday. He finished in 25:01.0 while placing 27th overall at last year's Charles Bowles Invitational. He'll be looking to beat that at this year's meet. His presence alone should instantly add more depth to the top of the Vikings' lineup, which should push the Vikings up the team standings.
 
Blue hopes that means a high finish for the Viking men Saturday. And if the Vikings run like they're trying to earn a spot at conference, then those things should take care of themselves.
 
MEET INFO
Saturday, Oct. 4 – Charles Bowles Invitational – Salem Ore. (McCulloch Stadium and Bush Park)
 
FOLLOW ALONG
Live Results
 
MEET SCHEDULE
Time (PT) – Event
9:30 a.m. – Men's 8k
10:20 a.m. – Women's 5k