Cross country sets sights on NWC Championship

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The 2011 cross country team has run its course in a flash. Both coaches and players agree that the season flew by. and now the runners are gearing up for their final meets. “We have worked hard all season for conference and nothing is going to get in the way of the high expectations we have,” said freshman Rachel Schreiber. The Northwest Conference Championships will be held at the Willamette Mission State Park in Brooks, Ore. on Oct. 29. Division III teams from Washington, Oregon, California and Colorado will come to Oregon for the race. The top two teams along with the top seven individual runners, both men and women, will qualify for the NCAA West Region Championships in Claremont, Calif. on November 12. If they proceed from the meet in Claremont, the runners will race on November 19 at the NCAA Division III Championships in Winneconne, Wis. The teams upcoming championships will test the teams ability and endurance they have been improving upon all season long. “It has been a very good season to this point. Both teams have been enjoyable to work with and are making solid improvements as the championship part of the year approaches,” said Head Coach Tim Boyce regarding the season heading into the final meets. The runners talk very highly of their coaching staff and see Boyce as a role model and excellent leader for their team. “Going into this season I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. This is only my second season ever doing cross country,” said Schreiber. “The group of girls I got to run with, that I now consider my family, are some of the most amazing people here at Pacific. We had a really strong season together, and they pushed me, not to mention put up with me every step of the way.” The men and women teams each get the chance to enter their top ten best runners at the Northwest Conference. This means that all of the cross-country participants will be given the opportunity to participate in the race. “I’m proud. Proud to be part of where we stand,” said junior Jerry Sanchez. “It signifies that we’ve been fighting for one of those top spots in the conference and we are capable of earning that spot this year.” Sanchez also said he was excited about being in a smaller conference atmosphere after transferring from a community college in California. Boyce said he hopes all of the runners are rewarded with excellent finishes at the Northwest Conference. Both men and women rankings for the year in the conference will come down to how they finish at the Northwest Conference Championships.

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