PORTLAND, Ore. — The highest point within the Big Sky Conference is in Flagstaff, Ariz., so it's only appropriate that the Portland State cross country teams travel there for the pinnacle of their seasons Friday for the Big Sky Championships at Buffalo Park.
 
The Viking men open the meet with an 8k at 9 a.m. PT / 10 a.m. MT, while the women follow with a 5k at 10 a.m. PT / 11 a.m. MT.
 
It'll be a young group of Vikings heading to the conference meet. Six of the eight women entered are freshmen or sophomores, as are five of the eight runners for the Viking men.
 
Freshman Brianna Mazilu has led the Viking women at their last three meets heading into the conference meet. Mazilu is coming off a 20th overall finish out of 320 runners at the George Oja Invitational on Oct. 17. Mazilu set her 5k seasonal best at the Ash Creek Collegiate, where she led the Vikings at eighth overall in a time of 18:37.1.
 
Outside of Mazilu, redshirt freshman Stina Tagesson led the Viking women at the Lewis & Clark XC Opener on Sept. 4. She placed fourth overall at the meet in 18:38.1. She added another top 10 finish the next week at the Ash Creek Collegiate, where she placed one spot behind Mazilu at ninth. She didn't run at the Vikings' third meet of the season, but returned for the George Oja Invitational, placing 39th overall as the Vikings' third runner.
 
Sophomore Sam Sharp has been consistently in the Vikings' top three with Mazilu and Tagesson. She's placed second in the Vikings' lineup at three of the four meets she's competed at this season. She finished highest at the Lewis & Clark XC Opener, where she placed fifth overall in 18:45.5.
 
On the men's side, Ari Smith led the Viking men while placing in the overall top 10 at the first three meets of the season. He won the Lewis & Clark XC Opener to kick off the year, while he followed with sixth- and fifth-place finishes at the Ash Creek Collegiate and Mike Johnson Classic, respectively. He's completed only one 8k this season, which came at the Mike Johnson Classic, where he finished in a personal-best time of 24:32.9.
 
Vince Estrada led the Viking men when Smith stepped off the course at the George Oja Invitational two weeks ago. Estrada placed 57th overall at the meet while lowering his 8k personal best to 25:00.2. Estrada also placed second in the lineup behind Smith at the Mike Johnson Classic, where he placed 17th overall.
 
Two other Viking men have finished second in the Vikings' lineup this season. Luke Gillingham was second behind Smith at the Lewis & Clark XC Opener, where he placed third overall. JD Arthur then finished as the Viking men's second runner at the Ash Creek Collegiate, where he placed 16th overall.
 
Those first two meets were under distance for the Viking men. The Lewis & Clark XC Opener was a 5k while the Ash Creek Collegiate was a 6k. Friday's Big Sky meet being an 8k – and at 7,000-feet of elevation in Flagstaff, no less – will test the Viking men's runners. The elevation will test the Viking women by itself, even as Friday will mark their third 5k of the season.
 
The Big Sky meet hasn't been in Flagstaff in 14 years, going back to 2012. That race was also at Buffalo Park, but that familiarity won't benefit anyone in the Portland State program, given their youth. The freshmen on the team wouldn't have even been in first grade back in 2012.
 
That group has grown up since then. Just in time for the most important meet of the season at the highest point within the conference.
 
MEET INFO
Friday, Oct. 30 – Big Sky Championships – Flagstaff, Ariz. (Buffalo Park)
 
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MEET SCHEDULE
Time – Event
9 a.m. PT / 10 a.m. MT – Men's 8k
10 a.m. PT / 11 a.m. MT – Women's 5k