Gonzaga University
Erik Anderson Invitational
Bulldog Women Win, Men Second At Erik Anderson Invitational
9/26/2009 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country
Sept. 26, 2009
Complete Results in PDF Format 
SPOKANE, Wash. - Gonzaga University cross country coach Pat Tyson continues to applaud the progress of his team as the season reached the halfway point Saturday at the Erik Anderson Invitational at Plantes Ferry.
With Molly Funk taking fifth and Kayla Lloyd seventh to lead the women to the team title, and a healthy Matt Bejar finishing 10th as the Bulldog men had four runners in the top 15 on the way to a second-place finish, the Bulldogs have their sights set on the West Coast Conference Championship on Halloween.
The Bulldogs women scored 54 points to edge Whitman College with 60. It was the first team title for the Bulldog women since 2004 when they captured the Sasquatch Invitational hosted by the Community Colleges of Spokane. The Bulldog men finished second behind NAIA powerhouse Lewis-Clark State College 28-54.
"I thought today went well. It's a great course and decent competition. Whitworth is one of the best Division II schools in the country and are in the top 25, Lewis-Clark State is an NAIA powerhouse and Community Colleges of Spokane dominate the community colleges on the west coast," Tyson said. "For Gonzaga men's and women's to use this to get us closer to what our goals will be at the WCC we're doing the right things to get there."
Funk, a junior from Denver, Colo., covered the 5K course in 19:34.47 while Lloyd was seventh in 19:48.82. Dana Misterek of Spokane's Whitworth University captured individual honors in 19:04.59.
"Molly is turning into Miss Consistent. She said she was feeling a little flat today, but I told her it was cool to be in the top five and holding onto our No. 1 position," Tyson said. "The freshmen in there are good to see, as I like what I see in the veterans."
Sophomore Elizabeth Slamkowski was 12th, junior Corrina O'Brien 14th, freshman Brenn Donnelly 16th and freshman Laura Bergam 19th to give the Bulldogs six runners in the top 20.
"I'm happy with the women and they are moving the right direction. We have depth. We're not just a 1-2-3 runner, we have seven or eight young ladies who can be in the top five at any given time," Tyson said.
Bejar, who put in more of a tune-up effort in Portland two weeks ago, came back with a vengeance Saturday in finishing 10th in 26:54/76 over the 8K layout. Freshmen Christian Burger, Tate Kelly, Patrick Richie and Lucas Rothenberger finished 11th, 14th, 17th and 19th, respectively.
Dave Marks of LCSC won in 25:53.70 to lead five Warriors in the top 10.
"Two weeks ago Matt looked a little out of shape," Tyson said. "For him to come back and be our No. 1 guy today I don't think I would have put money on that. I thought maybe we were a couple of weeks away. Brett (Withers) was a little flat today. I told him your teammates picked it up for you. Christian Burger ran tough today and Tate Kelly maybe his best race all year. Add Patrick Richie and Lucas Rothenberger in there and this team is getting solid."
Withers, one of the Bulldogs top runners all season, finished 20th in 27:19.46.
The Bulldogs have two meets remaining prior to the WCC Championship, next Saturday at the Montana Invitational hosted by the University of Montana and Oct. 17 at the Vandal Jamboree hosted by the University of Montana.
"Not many teams do back-to-backs but we used today as more of a workout," Tyson said of having to turn right around and race in Montana next weekend. "We want to use Montana next week as a rough draft of the WCC. Sleep in a hotel room, traveling, getting out of your comfort zone and being in your own little space is one of the reasons to go to Montana. It will help us define who our top seven will be going to the WCC Championship."
