The WSU cross country team started out its season last Saturday at the Clash of the Inland Northwest Meet in Spokane. Many Cougars obtained successful results at this meet, and the coach was pleased with the outcome.

On the women’s side, senior captain Lisa Egami finished first in the women’s 4,000m race with a time of 16:10.01. Following close behind was fellow Cougar senior Chelsea VanDeBrake with a time of 16:10.02.

Running unattached from the team was freshman Alyssa Andrews, who finished with a time of 16:24.0, finishing in sixth. Sophomore Emily Farrar finished the meet eighth overall at a time of 16:25.06.

The women’s cross country team had further success during the meet. Redshirt senior Marisa Sandoval placed 10th with a time of 16:30.08. Junior Ashlee Wall finished behind her in eleventh with a time of 16.34.09. Following Wall was junior Amanda Andrews, who finished in 12th with a time of 16:35.0.

The Cougars competed against three other colleges on Saturday. They beat Eastern Washington 15 to 45. They also defeated Gonzaga by a score of 18 to 41 and surpassed Idaho with a final score of 26 to 30.

The men’s cross country team also found much success at the meet held at Mead High School. It was a day where the underclassmen sustained much progress throughout this meet.

Two Cougars finished in the top five but were running unattached from WSU. They finished third and fourth in the 6,000m race. Freshman Andrew Kimpel came in with a time of 20:34.0. Following behind him was junior David Hickerson, who finished with a time of 20:34.03.

The remainder of the men’s team also had success in the meet. Finishing in sixth place was redshirt senior Dominic Smargiassi with a time of 20:38.02. Next was redshirt sophomore Peter Miller in seventh place with a time 20:40.03. Sophomore Jono Lafler was running unattached and finished in eighth place with a time of 20:40.0.

The Cougars also took ninth, 10th, 11th, 13th and a 31st spot in the Inland Northwest Race. Overall, the men had a good meet, though many of their athletes were not wearing a WSU singlet for the event.

The men’s team also competed against the same three universities that the women’s team faced. They beat Gonzaga 22 to 35. They also beat Idaho by a score of 22 to 33. However, the Eastern Washington Eagles edged out the Cougars by the slim margin of 27 to 29.

The next meet for the cross country team is on Sept. 26 at the Roy Griak Invitational in Minneapolis, Minn.