Mounties Continue to Improve
LA GRANDE, Ore. - Kicking off a busy Homecoming Saturday morning, the EOU harriers took on Northwest Nazarene University, Treasure Valley Community College and on the men's side, a strong alumni team ("Team Greyhound" in honor of EOU Hall of Fame runner, Jason "The Greyhound" Werst) that included some of the best to ever wear a Mountie uniform.
The women's team had a strong performance. Running over an unconventional distance of 3,000 meters (the usual race distance being 5,000 meters), the EOU women's team made up some ground on the NCAA Division II Northwest Nazarene. This meet was the fourth meeting between the two teams this fall, and by far the best showing against the regionally ranked Crusaders from Nampa, Idaho. EOU was strengthened by the return of Christine Eckstein to the line up as Eckstein and Marcella Bosch finished 4th and 2nd, respectively, this morning. Despite the second place finish to NNU, the women performed very well as a group and we are looking forward to the rest of the season.
On the men's side, the highlight of the day was a very fine performance in the area of "pack running," as for much of the race a pack of four runners, consisting of Fernando Morales, Terry Johnsen, Zach Heath and Carlos Quintana, ran closely bunched over the rarely run 5,000 meter course. A normal mens race distance is 8,000 meters. The Mounties were lead by junior Cam Starner, who took the race out fast and held on to finish 5th overall, behind three former EOU All-Americans and a runner from NNU. Starner also led the charge for the Mounties who ran faster than they ever have for 5,000 meter Cross Country (the standard distance for High School Races), either in HS or at this meet last year. All told, 5 of the 7 Harriers ran 5,000 meter Cross Country personal bests. All in all, the Harriers in the Blue and Gold had a good, solid day, showing promise for the next several meets.
EOU now travels to Lewiston, Idaho for the Lewis-Clark State College Invite on October 25th, where they will see several ranked NAIA teams.