Everett Community College Athletics

September 15, 2012 - Sun Dodger Invitational

(Seattle, W.A.) – The Trojan Cross Country teams kicked off their season on Saturday, September 15^th, at the Sun Dodger Invitational hosted by the University of Washington in Seattle’s Lincoln Park.

The women’s 6-kilometer competition featured 213 athletes representing 19 Collegiate teams from around the Northwest. Everett’s women were led by sophomore All-American Katie Strong who finished 5^th overall in 22:22.89 and shattered two-time NWAACC XC Champion Shawna Schooley’s 6-kilometer school record of 22:32.12, which she set on the same course in 2010.  Freshman Marren Haneberg finished 8th just behind Strong in 22:34.64 just narrowly missing Schooley’s record herself, but crossing the line over a second ahead of Schooley’s freshman record of 22:36.00 set in 2009. Catie Arrigoni, a sophomore from Oroville High School, crossed the line in 9^th just behind Haneberg in 22:37.42. Rounding out the top 7 for the Trojans were sophomore Kristina Cordy (19^th place - 22:55.64), freshman Rachel Cundy (34^th - 23:22.76),  freshman Chelsea Stokes (41^st - 23:31.18) and sophomore Veronica Hall (56^th - 23:46.67).  

In the women’s team competition, the Trojan’s 67 points were good for a 2^nd place team finish. Lewis & Clark, with a team score of 62, just narrowly edged out the Everett squad for the team title. Seattle Pacific University placed 3^rd (88 points), Linfield was 4^th (133) and Whitman 5^th (176).

In the men’s competition, 22 teams and 236 athletes contested the 8-kilometer race.  Sophomore All-American Habtamu Rubio who finished 6th overall in 25:10.71 led the Trojan men. Close behind Rubio was Aaron Campbell who took 9^th overall in 25:19.79. Nic Lawrence, a sophomore from Auburn-Riverside, was 30^th in 25:45.60. Rounding out the top 7 for the Trojans were sophomore Abiel Tekle (56^th - 26:19.00), freshman Zack Speiker from Oroville (62^nd - 26:21.87), Mitch Beard, a freshman from Nooksack Valley (88^th - 26:40.19), and Kris Mugrage, a freshman from Lakewood High School (91^st - 26:44.50). The Trojan men were without sophomore leaders Nate Starr and Max Antush who both fell victim to a stomach virus and were unable to compete.

As a team, the Trojans finished 3^rd overall with 128 points. The team competition was dominated by University of British Columbia whose 48 points placed them well ahead of former Trojan Seth Pierson’s Seattle Pacific University squad (108 points). Seattle University placed 4^th (155 points) and Western Washington University was 5^th (166 points).