The Eastern Washington University cross country teams start their seasons in Moscow, Idaho, this Friday (Aug. 31) for the Clash of the Inland Northwest. The race is set to begin at 6 p.m. Pacific Time for the women and 6:30 p.m. for the men.
 
Last year at the Clash of the Inland Northwest, the top finisher for the men was sophomore Colton Johnsen placing sixth with a time of 18:45.96. For the women, graduated senior Kari Hamilton-Scharnhorst placed sixth with a time with 14:33.68.
 
In the preseason coaches' poll, the men and women were both picked to finish eighth in the Big Sky Conference this year. Both teams will have a very new look, as the women's team is composed of only of three returning athletes from last year's championship team, while the men return only two.
 
"I'm looking forward to seeing where we stand since I'm new and still learning their fitness background," first-year head coach Sam Read said. "There are a lot of athletes who redshirted cross country last year. And some who have 800 meter experience on the track that will be stepping into a cross country role this year. So this is going to be a new experience for everyone."
 
The women finished eighth overall out of 12 teams competing at the Big Sky Conference Championships a year ago, while the men placed ninth.
 
Eastern will be traveling for all seven of their meets with the farthest being in Sunnyvale, Calif., for the Santa Clara Bronco Invitational at Baylands Regional Park.
 
The Eagles will also be traveling to Colfax, Wash., and Missoula, Mont., before their string of California trips that also includes two trips to Sacramento, Calif., for the 2018 Big Sky Cross Country Championships and the NCAA West Regional Championships.
 
The Eagles have practiced as much as smoky conditions have allowed since the team reported Aug. 15.
 
"Having a week of camp and then heading straight to our first meet in Idaho, we are going to be tired. This first meet is for the athletes to shake off the summer rust and get the feel of racing again," said Read.
 
                                                                                                              
 

Women's Outlook

 
The Eagles will have seven returners, including redshirt junior Kealah Corrigan. At the Big Sky Championships last year, she set her personal best in the 5,000 meters when she earned a 55th-place finish with a time of 18:59.8. She also ran in the NCAA Division I West Region Cross Country Championships where she set her best of 22:17.9 in the 6,000 meters.
 
Among the other returners for the women's team are Phoenix Aguilar, Ashley Arreola, Molly Beaman, Erika Leinweber, Megan Pitzman, and Lily Tyrrell.
 
The team's two newcomers are senior Johanna Sherman and freshman Hannah Spakousky, both from Cheney, Wash.
 
"Our women's team is a completely different group from last year's team," Read said. "We are a really young group and we have some development ahead of us, but the potential is very exciting."
 
 
 

Men's Outlook

 
The top finisher for the Eagles returning this year on the men's side at last year's Big Sky's Championships is Ronan Price. He placed 62nd overall with a time of 26:47.3.
 
Besides Price, the Eagles have six other returners including redshirt sophomore Isaac Barville, who finished 10th in the mile at the Big Sky Indoor Championships last year. Price and Senior Dominic Rehm both ran at the NCAA West Regionals last year in cross country.
 
Among the other returners are Jacob Christner, Colton Egberg, Jack Sloan and Brock O'Neal. The newcomers include Drew Whited, Carter Ledwith, Nicholas Mullineux and Jacob Stirpe.
 
"We have a lot of guys who put in a great summer of work," Read said. "I'm eager to see who steps up to fill the roles left by those that graduated last year."