RESULTS

Eastern Washington University hosted the Big Sky Championship this morning (Oct 28th) at the Fairways Golf Course in Cheney, Wash. EWU's top-eight runners on the men's and women's team competed in the 8k and 5k, and the Eagles notched their highest finishes since the 2016 season with each team finishing sixth. The men totaled 214 points while the women compiled 189.

Northern Arizona won both the men's and women's titles. For the men's side, sophomore Noah Hasselblad was the head of the pack finishing 21st with a time of 24:32.8. Right behind was sophomore Cameron Stuard who came in 45th with a time of 25:23.4. On the women's team, redshirt freshman Lilly Fetzer led the squad coming in 28th with a time of 17:47.6. Following her was freshman Faith Martinez who placed 38th with a time of 18:04.3. Fetzer's time is the eighth-fastest in program history, while Martinez's is the 12th, as both ran personal bests. Fetzer's finish was also the highest by an Eagle on the women's side at the championships since 2017.

"The men's side came through. We had some people step up and we had some people not have their best day, but they balanced each other out. I thought we could get sixth, we barely pulled off sixth and we got the job done. Two places better than last year is the right direction," said head cross country coach Sam Read. "On the women's side, we had strength in numbers and the pack came through again. Other teams behind us had better number one's, but we put five in front of other teams of three. That's what made the difference. A sixth-place finish is a big leap forward from last year. Both teams don't graduate anyone so we have big goals for the future."

The Eagles now turn their focus to the NCAA West Regional meet on Friday, Nov. 11 in Seattle, Wash.

On Top Individual Performances

"On the men's side, I have to give Noah credit for going out there racing really hard upfront for us being our low stick. And then Marcus and Anthony, that last K, those two really stepped up and saved us. I think Anthony passed a Montana guy and an Idaho State guy in the 75-meters, that changes us from 8th then to 6th. Great finish by them, they knew every point mattered so we needed it. If you look at our overall placing over the last few years for our women, we put four in front of our highest place in the last four years. Lilly led the way, and her and Faith had really gutsy runs again. Those two led the way, and our pack behind them with Kaylin, Jasmin, and Madi made the difference. It was great, we have a bright future."

On hosting the Championship: 

"It's been go-go-go, now I can finally take a breath and relax a little bit. It was super fun hosting and having this many home fans and cowbells out here. The hometown advantage I think propelled us, could be another reason our guys pulled it out at the end, when you're coming in the home stretch and you have all of the Eastern fans, that makes a difference. A huge thanks to all of our volunteers, our support staff and Spokane Sports for helping put this event on, it takes an army and we pulled it off." 

Men's Results

21st Noah Hasselblad (24:32.8)

45th Cameron Stuard (25:23.4)

49th Marcus Lemon (25:35.4)

55th Anthony Carlascio (25:42.5)

61st Austin Steed (26:07.3)

65th Jamie Christner (26:20.8)

66th Danny Maxwell (26:21.4)

69th Jesus Herrejon (26:39.7)

28th Lilly Fetzer (17:47.6)

38th Faith Martinez (18:04.3)

40th Jasmin Muneton (18:06.8)

41st Kaylin Sheley (18:10.9)

48th Madilyn Carr (18:19.0)

60th Loren Linnenburger (18:52.1)

64th Maddie Drennen (19:01.1)

73rd Nattie Ruzauskas (19:56.5)