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Oct. 7, 2009

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Itching to go following a two-week layoff, the Western Washington University men's and women's cross country teams, both ranked among the top 10 nationally, are looking to defend their titles Saturday at the 36th annual Western Washington University Invitational at Lake Padden Park.

Also competing in the meet are British Columbia, Central Washington, Club Northwest, Saint Martin's, Seattle Pacific, Seattle Running Club and Skagit Valley CC.

The women's race, which covers six kilometers, begins at 10:30 a.m. That will be followed by the men's run of 10 kilometers, which starts at approximately 11:15 a.m.

"It will be good to get back in a cycle again and have a good race," said Western coach Pee Wee Halsell (23rd year). "It will help us get ready for the championship part of our season where our focus is."

The Viking women, ranked No.7 in the latest United States Cross Country Coaches Association/NCAA Division II Top 25 Poll, are led by All-American Sarah Porter (Jr., Hockinson), who is looking to defend her individual title.

Porter has placed first in five of her last six regular-season meets and finished among the top 10 in all 11 regular-season events during her three-year career.

The Western men, rated No.8 nationally, are seeking a fifth straight team title.

The Vikings are paced by three All-Americans - Bennett Grimes (Jr., Pocatello, ID/Century), Blake Medhaug (Jr., Bothell) and Jordan Welling (Jr., Burlington/Burlington-Edison).

Welling and Grimes placed second and third, respectively, at last year's invitational. Welling finished just one second behind winner John Riak from Saint Martin's, with Grimes only four seconds off the pace.

Also expected to be among Western's front runners are Nick Abraham (So., Sammamish/Skyline), Sam Bedell (Sr., Reno, NV), Yonas Berhe (So., Seattle/Roosevelt), Eric Brill (So., Kent/Kentwood), Greg Kubitz (Sr., Kelson) and Anthony Tomsich (Jr., Fairbanks, AK/West Valley).

Tomsich and Grimes placed 1-2 at the 2007 Western meet.

Looking to pace the women, besides Porter, will be Lauren Breihof (So., Vancouver/Mountain View), Sierra Brisky (So., Acme/Mount Baker), Kristi Fairbanks (Fr., Snohomish), Kendra Hedges (So., Lake Stevens), Courtney Olsen (Sr., Bellingham/Squalicum), Danielle Slaughter (Sr., Spokane/Shadle Park), and Emily Wallen (Fr., Olympia/Capital). Fairbanks' status is indefinite because of a foot injury.

In Western's last competition on Sept. 19 at the University of Washington Sundodger Invitational, the men placed second and the women finishing third in their divisions comprised primarily of NCAA I schools.

"The season is progressing well and everyone is training hard," said Halsell. "These teams are both very close and both are deep. Getting them down to 10 in a couple of weeks won't be an easy task."