XC Takes on Regional Foes at Inland Empire Classic
10/17/2014 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country
SPOKANE, Wash. - Gonzaga's cross country teams travel just 100 miles south to Lewiston, Idaho, for the Inland Empire Classic on Saturday morning.
The meet, hosted by Lewis-Clark State College, will feature a 5,000-meter race for the women and 8,000 meters for the men on the LSCS Cross Country Trail at Lewiston Orchards. The women's race is scheduled to start at 11 a.m. followed by the men's at 11:45 a.m.
On the men's side, Gonzaga will be back in action for the first time since a split weekend two weeks ago. The top seven traveled to the Notre Dame Invite and finished 13th out of a field that featured 23 other regionally-ranked teams. They were led by a 37th-place finish from senior Nick Roche and sophomore Troy Fraley. The finish also helped vault the team into the No. 7 spot in the USTFCCCA West Region, the school's highest-ever ranking. The GU men also competed at Montana two weeks ago, earning a third-place finish with an 11th-place individual performance from Max Kaderabek.
"This is the last dress rehearsal before the West Coast Conference meet," head men's coach Pat Tyson said. "Everything leading into the conference championship is all about learning about who we are.
This competition is all about closing off our rough drafts, learning more about ourselves and just have a nice meet that shows we are ready to roll for 14 days down the road. We might be the team to beat tomorrow, but we know that we need to work on packing up."
For the women, they're also competing for the first time in two weeks, also earning a third-place finish at Montana. Amelia Evans battled for the lead, ultimately finishing in second-place individually. Jordan Thurston, Shelby Mills, Zoe Urcadez and Lara Tuthill came in 15th through 18th for the Zags to round out the top five.
"Everything we are doing is practicing toward the conference championships," head women's coach Patty Ley said. "It's like a cumulative exam at the WCCs, so we need to use this opportunity to get ready for it. The ladies really like the course and it should be a pretty solid meet overall. There are a couple teams that have gotten us earlier this year, so it'll be nice to go out there and try to get some of them back. We need to go chase teams and the times will come."
The Zags will face the likes of Lewis-Clark State, Washington State, Idaho, University of Calgary, Montana, Eastern Washington, Spokane Falls CC, College of Idaho, Eastern Oregon and University of Great Falls.
