Cross Country Qualifies For Nationals for the First Time in School History
Reported By: Sam Erickson
Photographed By: Naji Saker
For the first time since George Fox University (GFU) joined the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the men and women's Cross Country teams competed in the national championship. The race was hosted by Michigan State University in Lansing, Michigan.
The team has had nationals-hope all year long and heading into the Northwest Conference (NWC) Championships, the teams looked to show it. They did so in a resounding fashion: Both the men and women’s teams won the conference championship, earning them an automatic bid to the Regional meet.
For the women’s team, Brenna Sclair ran a 21:33 6K, winning the race. The time was the second fastest time in school history, and she was later named NWC’s Women’s Runner of the Year. On the men’s side, Caden Hildenbrand etched his name in the Bruin history books with a 24:12 8K, finishing in fourth place. Hildenbrand’s time is the fastest in school history, breaking Jon Wright’s record from 1991.
After the NWC championship, both teams finished in fourth place at regionals. It wasn’t good enough for an automatic bid, but they were selected by the NCAA as qualifiers for the national championship. “It [was] for sure very exciting. Definitely a testament to the progress the program has been able to have under Coach Wilson,” said Hildenbrand
The women's team finished 16th at nationals, and the men's team finished 17th. The highlight of the trip for the team was Kayla Aalopeol’s 32nd-place finish, the highest placement out of the entire team. The freshman, who was named the NWC Freshman of the Year, ran a 22:37 6k at nationals. “The culture and team here at George Fox is why we were able to make it to nationals this year for both teams,” said Aalopeol. “We were able to set goals early in the season for ourselves which has helped us have the greatest cross country season.”
The team’s success this year came largely from their underclassman’s production. The women's team at nationals featured two freshmen, three sophomores, and a pair of juniors. The men’s team at nationals was composed of six sophomores and a freshman.
With this trajectory, the team will likely return to nationals next year, and makes them the favorite to win the NWC title. In the shorter term, don’t be surprised if the long-distance track team makes noise this spring as well.
Aalopeol credited Coach Wilson for the team’s success. “Coach Wilson has given each of us a training plan to follow and without that guidance, we wouldn't be where we are today as athletes,” she said.
With Wilson coaching, and roughly the same squad returning for next year, Bruins cross-country is setting themselves up to be a powerhouse.