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2004-2005 News
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MSU Billings Hosts PacWest Cross-Country Championships Saturday (Oct. 21, 2004)

BILLINGS, MT – Six schools and twelve cross-country teams will meet at Riverfront Park in Billings this weekend for the 2004 Pacific West Conference Cross-Country Championships hosted by Montana State University-Billings.  It will be the first PacWest championship for cross-country since 2001 when the meet was held in Hawaii.

All six members of the Pacific West Conference (BYU-Hawaii, Chaminade, Hawaii Pacific, Hawaii-Hilo, MSU Billings and Western New Mexico) will send men’s and women’s teams to the race.  Coaches have registered a total of 41 women and 39 men for the championship.  The men’s 8,000 meters race will start at 10:00 a.m., followed by the women’s 5,000 meters at approximately 11:00 a.m.  MSU Billings will host a pasta dinner for all 12 teams Friday night. 

The women’s race has a clear favorite for both the individual and team titles.  Defending NCAA Division II National Champion Chelsea Smith of BYU-Hawaii will be on the first leg of her national title defense.  The junior from Mead, Wash., hasn’t been challenged this year and is expected to run away with the conference individual title. 

“Chelsea Smith is the odds on favorite,” said MSU Billings head coach Dave Coppock.  “I'm expecting her to set a course record.  The women's college record on our course is 18:04.  She'll probably cruise through in about 17:20 or so.”

Anchored by Smith, the Seasiders are the favorites to capture the team title as well.  They finished second last week at the University of Hawaii Sprints and have won every head-to-head race this season against PacWest teams.  Diana Choi has four top six finishes, including a second at the Hawaii Pacific Invitational.  Jennifer Puzey has placed in the top 10 four times.

“I think we could be a strong contender for second place along with Hilo,” said Coppock.  “Our times don't compare as fast head to head with Hilo, but we've been on some pretty tough courses.  We should drop a minute or more for each person on this course.  Our girls don't realize yet how fast they're going to be this weekend without having to travel and being on the type of course we're on. We typically drop that much time, or more, from the other meets.  I think Heidi Robertson, Sarah Lord and Chelsea Lynnes all have legitimate shots at the top 10.”

The men’s race should be a battle between BYU-Hawaii and Hawaii-Hilo.  The Vulcans edged the Seasiders by four points in their last head to head meeting at the Hawaii Pacific Invitational.  The Vulcans’ Germaine Ortiz won the 10K at HPU and hasn’t finished lower than seventh this season.  Paul Moth finished third in the HPU race and has four top 10 finishes.

BYU-Hawaii captured the team title at last week’s UH Sprints behind a first place finish from Jacob Rushton.  Rushton has five top seven finishes this year.  Jacob Puzey and Jeremy Van Tress have also finished in the top 10 in every race.

“The guys should have a shot at fourth or possibly third if all goes well,” said Coppock of the Yellowjackets’ prospects.  “They too are expected to drop their times significantly from the Colorado and Black Hills courses.  Hilo and BYU-Hawaii have been close all year and are the favorites.  Hawaii Pacific has been running third.  The men’s course record of 24:47 could also fall this weekend.”

The dark horse in both the men’s and women’s races might be Western New Mexico.  The Mustangs have run primarily against Division I opponents this year and train in the thin air of Silver City, NM (elevation 6,142 feet).  The women finished fourth and the men sixth two weeks ago at the Arizona State Invitational.  Josh Sifuentes placed 18th at ASU for the men.  Laura Van Buskirk finished in 22nd.

Following Saturday’s conference championships, the Yellowjackets will host their annual fun run and invitational race on October 30.  They will then compete in the NCAA West Regional on November 6.  This year’s host of the regional is Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA.  The national championships will be held in Evansville, IN on November 20.

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