Wolves Open Cross Country Season Saturday

Western Oregon to compete at the Boxer Rebellion.

Photo courtesy: runforit.com

MONMOUTH - Western Oregon’s men’s and women’s cross country teams will open the 2006 season on Saturday at the Boxer Rebellion, with just three practice days under their belt.

The meet is hosted by Pacific University in Forest Grove. Start time is 10:00 AM.

“We obviously are not expecting much yet, and everyone won’t run,” confirmed third-year head coach Mike Johnson. “It gives us a chance to get a good workout in and wet our competitive whistles a bit.”

The Wolves have just five returning letterwinners on the men’s side, but have 21 runners on the roster. Senior Nick Crawford is one of the veterans, having finished 12th a year ago in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships. He was the team’s MVP, and was the Wolves top finisher in every race in which he competed.

Other returnees are sophomore Nik Karr, junior Troy Banker, sophomore Adam Bernot and senior Josh Vredenburg.

14 true freshmen, a redshirt freshman and a transfer round out the roster.

The women’s list is much smaller, with just 12 runners on the squad. 2005 MVP Rachel Peters leads a cast of six returnees to go with four freshman and two transfers.

Peters was WOU’s leading finish line-crosser in all but one race a year ago. Senior Stephanie Upshaw also returns, along with four sophomores: Sarah Barker, Sarah Howell, Kim Parry and Corina Pusch.

After the Pacific meet, the Wolves will partake in the Pier Park Invitational, hosted by the University of Portland on Friday, Sept. 8th.

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