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Fall Cross Country is Back

by wsucougars.com
Sep 1, 2021

COLFAX, Wash. – The Washington State women's and men's cross country squads opened the fall 2021 season from their home course, the Colfax Golf Club, by running in the WSU Open Wednesday evening. 

WSU WOMEN
The WSU Cougar women were led tonight by freshman Neema Kimtai who finished first overall with a time of 13.35.5 in this 4k race. Kimtai posted an average mile time of 5:28.1 to lead the pack throughout the race as well. Neema's overall time of 13:35.5 broke both the overall course record and the freshman course record for the women. 

Sophomore Caroline Jerotich returns to WSU this fall and she made an immediate impact with a second place finish of 13:35.8 just behind Kimtai. Jerotich saw an average mile time of 5:28.2 as she was just beaten out by her Cougar teammate. Recording a solid overall third place finish was freshman Alaina Stone Boggs who finished with a time of 13:43.4, and an average mile time of 5:31.3.

Senior Pia Richards turned in a fourth place overall finish with a time of 14:08.9, and fellow returner Zorana Grujic placed fifth overall, posting a time of 14:26.3. Just behind Grujic was another familiar Coug, sophomore Samantha Boyle who crossed the finish line sixth with a time of 14:36.5 overall. 

Freshman Pietra Da Silva would cross the finish line next for WSU in seventh overall with a time of 14:44.0. Senior Erin Mullins went on to finish eighth on the day with a time of 14:56. 8 as well. Rounding out the WSU women's team was Maya Nichols in ninth with a time of 15:02.3, and then Madison Lee in 10th with a time of 15:50.1. 
 
WSU MEN
Leading the Cougar men during the 6k race was freshman Brian Barsaiya who posted a time of 17:31.7, and took home a first place finish to begin the season. Barsaiya posted an average mile time of 4:42.1 to anchor WSU in this opening race. Brian's time of 17:31.7 also broke both the overall course record and the freshman course record for the men. 

A familiar face crossed the finish like next for the Cougs, as junior Amir Ado earned second place overall with a time of 17:43.0. Ado saw an average mile time on the day of 4:45.1 as well. Senior Zach Stallings found success at the WSU home course, finishing third overall, recording a time of 17:51.5, and an average mile time of 4:47.4. Fellow senior Matthew Watkins went on to finish fourth with a time of 17:55.1 as well. Rounding out the top five during this home meet for the Cougars was freshman Leif Swanson, as the newcomer posted a time of 4:53.9 in his first appearance for Washington State.

Sophomore Landon Boomsma led the next pack of Cougars to cross the finish line, posting a time of 18:53.6. Ethan Martin followed shortly behind Boomsma as Martin recorded a time of 18:57.6 as well. Jacob Easton went on to finish eighth at 19:00.6 and Evan Gonzalez followed with a ninth place finish at 19:04.2. 

Freshman Cooper Cortinas saw himself turn in an 11th place finish with a time of 19:39.9, and sophomore Amrit Banga followed his fellow Coug in 12th with a time of 19:45.3. Pascal Kleyer went on to finish 13th overall, recording a time of 19:57.4, and Nate Pendleton capped off the Cougar squad at 15th overall with a time of 20:41.5. 
  
FROM COACH PHIPPS
Discussing running in the fall once again: "It was awesome!" Phipps said. "We had somewhat of a cross country season last year but we were doing that inside the indoor practice facility, so to be out here, our home course, with the excitement, the support that we had, it was really special and super exciting to be back."

Discussing the women's and men's races: "I thought it was awesome," Phipps continued. "We had course records on both sides, freshman course records on both sides, a lot of depth, which was great to see since we're training through this meet so they came in a little fatigued after some very hard work at our training camp so it was exciting to see people perform so well."
 
INTO THE TWITTER-VERSE

 
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Washington State will remain home for its' next race, as the Cougs will host the Cougar Classic from the Colfax Golf Club in Colfax, Wash. The women's race (6k) will look to begin around 5:00 p.m. and the men (8k) will follow with a start time of 5:45 p.m. 

 

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