2025 NWAC Cross Country Championships This Monday at 'The Course!'

The 2025 NWAC Cross Country Championships are approching this week, hosted for the first time at 'The Course' Spokane Valley on Monday, Nov. 10 in Spokane Valley, Washington.

'The Course' is a brand new, premier cross country running venue along the north shore of the Spokane River. Spokane Colleges will team up with Spokane Sports to host the championships through 2027.  

'The Course' features 46 acres of land and is customizable to accommodate races of varying lengths from 0.5 miles to 10,000 meters. It will feature dedicated starting and finish lines, spectator-friendly viewing areas and a large course width of 10-15 meters.

Men's Preview
Spokane enters the meet as the two-time defending champions on the men's side of the race. Despite defending medalist Gilbert Langat not competing this year, the Sasquatch still have four of the top eight times this season in 8,000 meter races. Sophomore Travis Horn is the top returner from 2024 for Spokane after he finished fifth overall at last year's meet. Freshman Alex Wright has the top time this season in 24:32.4.

Lane will once again be tough competition for the Sasquatch as the Titans took first place at the NWAC Southern Region Championships. The Titans had five of the top seven runners in the race, led by newcomer Andrew Rush who took medalist honors. Rush has the third fastest time in the NWAC this season. Returners Tyler Davis and Conner Lamb were All-American in 2024 as they finished sixth and seventh, respectively, and will be key to Lane's championship aspirations.

Everett will look to challenge for the title after taking first place at the Northwest Region Championships. Freshman Kenenisa Udo leads the Trojans after winning medalist honors. He owns the fourth fastest time in the NWAC this year in 24:56.3. Green River took second place at the regionals and are coming off a second place finish at the 2024 championships. Sophomore Samuel Grice is the top returning runner for all teams from the 2024 championship after he took third place individually last year.

Treasure Valley's Brayden Lamanna has been a top runner all season as he currently holds the second fastest time in the NWAC this year in 24:36.2. He leads a Chukars squad that did not compete in the 2024 championship. Southwestern Oregon also performed well at the Southern Region Championships as they took second behind Lane. Emmanuel Salinas leads the team after taking second at regionals and holding the 13th fastest time this year in the NWAC.

Women's Preview
The women's championship moves to a 6,000-meter race this season for the first time after previously being a 5K race. Like the men, Spokane won the last two championships but will have just one runner with championship experience from 2024 in sophomore Madelyn Hutyler, who took 24th last season. The Sasquatch have been led this year by freshmen Nevaeh Jasso, Lana Fletcher, Courage Hightree and Melissa Walker who are all in the top-11 in 6K times this season.

Southwestern Oregon had an impressive performance at the Southern Region Championships, finishing in first place by 50 points. The Lakers had four of the top six runners, led by Lydia Montes De Oca who took medalist honors. Taylor Dickey took third, followed by Vianey Toledo in fifth and Bella Fortino in sixth. Montes De Oca, Dickey and Toledo have the three fastest times in a 6K race this season in the NWAC.

Lane took second place at the Southern Region Championships, led by Violet Powell who finished less than a second behind Montes De Oca in an exciting finish. Powell has the fourth fastest time in the NWAC this year in the 6K. Umpqua's Analise Miller and Sanyana Felipe each finished in the top-eight at regionals and are both in the top-13 this season.

Everett took first place at the NWAC Northwest Region Championships led by the top three runners in Lily Rock, Teagan Pentz and Reda Long. Rock took medalist honors as the trio are all in the top-17 in the NWAC this year in the 6K.

Clackamas' Gabriella Salvione will look to lead the Cougars as she ranks fifth in the NWAC. Clark has finished as runner-up the last two years and also has the last two individual champions as they look to make it three in a row.

This year's championship meet will begin with the men's 8,000-meter race at 11 a.m. The women's 6,000-meter race will follow at 12 p.m. marking the first year that women's competitors will run a 6K race to align with the NCAA.

For more information on 'The Course', visit: https://www.spokanesports.org/venue/cross-country-complex

View a simulated 6K race at The Course: https://vimeo.com/1018408343?fl=pl&fe=sh

View a simulated 8K race at the Course: https://vimeo.com/1018409460?fl=pl&fe=sh

For more information regarding the 2025 championship meet and tickets, visit nwacsports.org/Championship_Central_Cross_Country.

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