Logan, Utah -- In a repeat of the 2005 championship, the Utah State University men’s and the University of Idaho women’s teams captured the 2007 WAC Cross Country titles held at the American Heritage Center in Logan, Utah. The win for the Aggies was their third-straight WAC title, while the Idaho women won their second title in three years.
In the first race of the day, Utah State placed four runners in the top five finishing the race with 21 points. Junior Seth Wold captured his first WAC title with a time of 23:16.63 which was the fastest time in an 8k championship race. Last season, Wold finished fifth in the WAC Championships. Utah State has captured the WAC title every year since joining the WAC in 2005. Steve Strickland finished third for the Aggies, while freshman Chio Lopez took home fourth.
As the top finishing freshman, Lopez also earned WAC Freshman of the Year honors. Utah State head coach Gregg Gensel was named WAC Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year. Last season, Gensel was WAC Coach of the year on both the men and women’s side. Idaho finished second (65), while Boise State captured third (83). Fresno State (98), San Jose State (116) and New Mexico State (175) finished fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively. Louisiana Tech rounded out the field finishing seventh with 183 points.
In the women’s 5k, Idaho won its first WAC title since 2005 with 39 points. Nevada finished second with 65 points, while host Utah State took third with 72 points. Boise State (95), Fresno State (119) and New Mexico State (143) finished fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively. San Jose State finished seventh with 168, while Hawai?i (215) and Louisiana Tech round out the field.
Boise State’s Breanna Sande won the individual title with a time of 17:01.32. Sande also earned WAC Athlete of the Year honors. With the win, Idaho head coach Wayne Phipps was named WAC Women’s Cross Country Coach of the Year. Phipps also earned the honor in 2005. Nevada newcomer Samantha Davis earned WAC Freshman of the Year honors as the fastest freshman finisher.
The WAC first-team all-WAC consists of the top seven finishers, while the second team consists of places eight through fourteen. The entire results are attached.
WAC Men’s Cross Country Results
Place Name Points
1. Utah State 21
2. Idaho 65
3. Boise State 83
4. Fresno State 98
5. San Jose State 116
6. New Mexico State 175
7. Louisiana Tech 183
WAC Women’s Cross Country Results
Place Name Points
1. Idaho 39
2. Nevada 65
3. Utah State 72
4. Boise State 95
5. Fresno State 119
6. New Mexico State 143
7. San Jose State 168
8. Hawai?i 215
9. Louisiana Tech --