Zags Show Depth, Progress with Second-Place Finish
9/21/2014 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country
SPOKANE, Wash.—Despite missing four runners from last weekend's West Coast Conference Preview squad, the Gonzaga University women's cross country team had a strong showing Saturday at the Erik Anderson Invite, finishing second on the course at Plantes Ferry in Spokane, Wash.
"I feel pretty good about today," said Gonzaga head coach Patty Ley. "Top to bottom, the women competed very well. They were aware of the gaps and the scorers they needed to remain in contact with throughout the race. I was pleased by the progress today."
Zoë Urcadez led the way for the Zags, finishing fifth with a time of 19:19.21. Lara Tuthill also earned a top 10 finish, completing the course in 19:42.10 for eighth place.
Alison Fraher was the third Zag to cross the line. She took 13th with a mark of 20:07.76.
Just eight seconds later, two GU runners finished back-to-back as Olivia Evans took 16th and Christina Tyson finished 17th. Evans ran the course in 20:15.14 while Tyson finished two seconds back.
Ley also highlighted the performance of Christina Winters, who placed 19th with a time of 20:21.56.
"We were running without four of our top seven from last week, but Zoë and Lara led the charge for the others," said Ley. "They are rapidly gaining the fitness and confidence to close the games between them and the top seven."
Gonzaga's scorers tallied 46 points, good for second on the day. A strong Lewis-Clark State program won the meet with 20 points as Warriors had four of the top five scorers.
Jessica Mildes won the race with a time of 18:33.98, but she competed unattached as she is red-shirting this cross country season.
Gonzaga also had a team in the men's race of the Erik Anderson Invite, running those who did not compete against Navy earlier in the morning. Gonzaga's men's squad also took second with 49 points, just two back from Lewis-Clark State. They were paced by Dan Amann, who took fourth with a time of 26:24.38. Ned Fischer came next for Gonzaga, finishing five seconds later and in fifth place.
Also competing unattached, Willie Milam won the men's race in 25:00.12.
The Gonzaga women's team will next compete Sunday, Oct. 4, when they head to Missoula, Mont., for the Montana Invitational. That meet will begin at 9:30 a.m. Pacific at the University of Montana Golf Course.
