• News
• |
• Schedule
• |
• Roster
• |
• Stats
• |
• Archives

Sept. 3, 2009

BELLINGHAM, Wash. -

BEN FLETCHER - THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

Dial Sarah Porter's cell phone, and her outgoing message says if she can't answer it's because "I'm probably out running right now."

"Probably" might be an understatement. The All-American distance runner, who will be a junior at Western Washington this year, logs more miles in a week than most vehicles not taking daily north-south routes on I-5.

"125 miles," Porter said, stopping long enough for a phone interview from Hockinson, where she's staying with her parents and training this summer. "So I'm usually out running when people call."

More people probably came calling after Porter finished 13th at the NCAA Division II Cross Country National Championships last year. But she's aiming even higher for the upcoming season - the top three.

So the miles and miles and miles are important, though some of her methods to keep things lively might come off as intriguing, to say the least.

"This past summer, I got to a point where I was just so sick of going out running that I took off one day and I left my watch at home and I decided I was just going to do anything and everything that popped into my head," Porter said, "which included running fast, running slow. I actually ran about a mile completely (naked) through the woods. And that was awesome. Running was fun again."

Her coach, Pee Wee Halsell, who heads the Vikings men's and women's cross country teams, may or may not condone his star runner's training methods. But he doesn't doubt Porter is in for another big year.

"She told me last week she'd be upset if she wasn't in the top three at nationals," he said. "My goal is for her to be in the top 10. I think she should have been there last year and she was 13th."

Porter's lofty goal paints broader strokes pertaining to a mentality the Western cross country men's and women's teams are embracing in 2009: Been there. Not satisfied.

Last year, both teams experienced tremendous success, each finishing 10th at nationals. This season, both teams return mostly intact - each minus just one runner from the groups eligible for travel.

And current runners are one year wiser, confident - not just hoping - they'll make a national mark again.

"I think both are looking to move up," Halsell said. "I know the guys want to be in the top four because they want to bring home a big trophy. And that's what it takes."

Others have noticed, with the men, powered by a trio of All-Americans - Bennett Grimes, Jordan Welling and Blake Medhaug - coming out just ahead of the women in national preseason polls at No. 7. The women just missed the top 10 at 11th.

The men look strong, especially with the return of Anthony Tomsich, a former No. 1 runner for Western who redshirted last year after suffering an Achilles injury. Eric Brill and Yonas Berhe consistently ranked as the Vikings fourth and fifth runners. The big three each finished strong at nationals last year, too: Welling took 29th, Medhaug 36th and Grimes took 43rd after finishing 41st in 2008.

And Halsell expects them all to improve, meaning the top echelon of Western runners could all conceivably contend for the team's top spot.

That's the idea.

"My attitude as a coach is I don't care who my No. 1 runner is as long they're running fast," Halsell said. "So that's kind of where they're coming from. They want the team (to succeed) and they know they have the capability of getting in there and being up there."

The men aren't alone. In a playful rivalry, there's been some talk of a wager between the two squads regarding which team will finish higher at nationals.

"I think the guys are ranked better," Porter said. "But if I have my way, I'm pretty sure it'll be pretty close come nationals."

That's not a terrible stretch. In addition to Porter, the women's team has a top returner in sophomore Lauren Breihof, who improved by season's end to place 53rd at nationals. Senior Courtney Olsen, sophomore Phoebe Hartnett, senior Danielle Slaughter and junior McKinley Williams round out the Vikings travel squad, which numbers seven runners, from last year. A couple of promising freshman also will join the fray.

"I'm so incredibly passionate about our team this year," Porter said. "It's such a great group of girls and they're all so strong.

"I want us to push each other. I know that the guys do. It seems like girls are usually more afraid of that because they don't want to get competitive, but that's kind of what it's about."

That's the drive Halsell speaks of when asked what allows a woman who attended WWU with the intent on majoring in theater to turn into a tremendous force wearing running shoes and ankle socks.

"Her desire," he said. "She gets in there and she works hard. She's not afraid of it. For a distance runner you'll hear 'trials by miles' and she's out there doing it. But Briehoff's doing it and Olsen's doing it. It's a team thing."

Sounds familiar.

2009 SCHEDULE

Sept. 5 - Lake Padden Relays, Bellingham (Lake Padden Park), 10 a.m.
Sept. 12 - CWU Apple Ridge Invitational, Yakima (Apple Ridge Course), 11:30 a.m.
Sept. 19 - Sundodger Invitational, Seattle (Lincoln Park), 9 a.m.
Oct. 10 - 36th Annual WWU Invitational, Bellingham (Lake Padden Park), 10:30 a.m.
Oct. 24 - GNAC Championships, Yakima (Apple Ridge Course), 10 a.m.
Nov. 7 - NCAA Division II West Regional, San Francisco (Golden Gate Park) TBA
Nov. 21 - NCAA Division II National Championship, Evansville, IN, 2 p.m.