WOU Cross Country Secures Historic Top Three GNAC Finishes

Western Oregon Men and Women Secure Historic Podium Finishes at GNAC Championships

The Western Oregon University cross country programs reached significant historical milestones at the 2026 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships today, with both the men’s and women’s teams securing top-three finishes at Ash Creek Preserve. According to a report from wouwolves.com, the men’s squad captured second place, marking their highest standing in the conference since their championship victory in 2017. The women’s team followed closely with a third-place finish, a result that mirrors their previous best performance from 2010.

While the championship trophy remains with Western Washington, the performances in Monmouth represent a major statistical resurgence for the Wolves. For the men, this runner-up finish ties their 2007 performance as their second-best historical showing at the GNAC Championships. The women’s third-place result serves as a strong foundation as they look toward postseason play, noting that their all-time program peak at this event remains a second-place finish achieved in 2007.

Men’s 8K Results and Individual Standouts

The men’s race saw Western Washington extend its dominance, securing its fifth team title with 25 points. The Vikings’ victory was fueled by a 1-2 finish from George Fernandez and Jared Alderfer, who clocked times of 23:37 and 23:39, respectively. Western Oregon finished the 8K distance with a total of 66 points, outpacing Alaska Anchorage (75), Northwest Nazarene (102), and Simon Fraser (154).

Individual honors for the Wolves were headlined by Remedan Seman and Matthew Resnik. Seman, who finished eighth with a time of 24:05, earned All-GNAC honors after narrowly missing the distinction last year when he placed 11th. Resnik followed closely in ninth place with a time of 24:10, also securing an All-GNAC designation. The depth of the WOU roster was evident in the top 25, with Ethan Bothwell finishing 13th (24:22), Logan Parker 14th (24:25), and Zander Campbell 24th (24:45).

Women’s 6K Performance and Freshman Success

The women’s side of the conference championships saw a similar pattern of dominance from Western Washington. The Vikings secured their fifth straight team title with 44 points, narrowly defeating Central Washington, which finished with 51 points. Western Oregon’s women took third place with 96 points, ahead of Northwest Nazarene (105) and Seattle Pacific (140). The race was led by Western Washington’s Ella Edens, who finished first with a time of 20:08.

Western Oregon’s individual success was highlighted by senior Kyla Potratz, who earned her second All-GNAC honor with an eighth-place finish in 21:06. Potratz has now become the first WOU athlete to achieve two-time All-GNAC status. She was joined on the All-GNAC team by freshman Maren Anderson, who finished tenth in 21:47. Anderson’s performance was particularly notable as she was also named the GNAC Freshman of the Year.

The Wolves’ roster showed significant depth across the 6K distance, with several runners placing in the top 35:

Nettle Grey: 22nd place (21:54)
Adele Beckstead: 26th place (22:09)
Ali Heinly: 32nd place (22:22)

Conference Honors and Upcoming Postseason Schedule

The GNAC distributed several individual awards following the conclusion of the races. While Western Washington swept the Men’s Athlete of the Year (George Fernandez) and Freshman of the Year (Rowan Jung) honors, Western Oregon’s Maren Anderson claimed the Women’s Freshman of the Year title. Additionally, Kyla Potratz and Maren Anderson were among the four WOU athletes recognized as All-GNAC runners under head coach Zach Halloway.

The momentum from these conference finishes shifts the focus toward the NCAA West Region Championships. Both the men’s and women’s teams are scheduled to compete in Sacramento, California, at Arcade Creek Park on November 21.

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