WHO WHAT WHEN WHERE…
COLFAX, Wash.  -- The Washington State Cross Country programs hosted the 2018 Cougar Classic Friday evening, as freshman Emma Jenkins took home first overall in the women's 6k race. 

WSU WOMEN
The WSU women's program, currently ranked ninth overall in the west region, placed second overall in the 6k race ran at the Colfax Golf Club.

The top finisher for Washington State was freshman Emma Jenkins who placed first overall with a time of 20:53. The remaining field for the Cougars included Kaili Keefe in sixth (21:28), Melissa Hruska finishing eighth (21:51), Desi Stinger in 14th (22:06), Samantha King-Shaw in 15th (22:08), Marie Gaudin in 19th (22:15), and Zorana Grujic in 24th overall (22:29).

Alexis Redfield, 28th, (22:36), Pia Richards, 31st, (22:48), Geneva Schlepp, 48th, (23:38), and Elena Willems, 52nd (23:47) all saw action during the Cougar Classic as well, helping boost WSU into a second place overall finish. 

Portland State claimed the top spot in the Classic with 34 total points, with Washington State finishing second with 44 points, and Idaho in third with 53 overall points.

"We held out three of our top women, including All-American Vallery Korir; however that does not overshadow the awesome race by true freshman Emma Jenkins," Coach Wayne Phipps said. "In her first ever 6km, Emma looked like a veteran; ran very intelligently, and was very relaxed the entire way."

WSU MEN
The men's squad, currently ranked No. 13 in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Association (USTFCCCA), finished third overall in the 8k race.

Leading the way for the Cougars was sophomore Kennan Schrag finishing fifth overall with a time of 24:22. Following Schrag was Andrew Cooper in 13th (24:48), Zach Stallings in 18th place (25:08), Jacob Nicholson in 26th (25:24), Cameron Dean in 32nd (25:34), and Nate Pendleton finished 40th overall (25:44).

Gonzaga claimed the top spot in the Classic with 21 total points, with Pepperdine finishing second with 78 points, and WSU tying for second with 78 points overall as well. 

"Overall, I thought things went very well tonight," head cross country coach Wayne Phipps discussed. "With us holding out our top eight men, it put a little pressure on Kennan to be a leader tonight; and he came through in a big way."

Coach Phipps continued, "He (Kennan) ran with a lot of confidence and this is a sign of great things to come for him this season."

"All of these great performances came in the middle of our highest weekly volume of the year; so I could not be more exicited about both groups as we head into a race schedule that features five of the most competitive meets in the nation," Coach Phipps said. 

>> Coach Phipps Post Race

MARK YOUR CALENDAR…
The Cougars will run next at the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational at the Zimmer Championship Course, located in Madison, Wisconsin on Friday, Sept. 28.