Washington State University Athletics

WSU Women 1st, Men 2nd at Cougar Classic
September 13, 2019 | Cross Country
Zorana Grujic and Matthew Watkins anchor the WSU squads.
COLFAX, Wash. – The Washington State women's cross country program captured its first team title of the season while the men's team finished second overall at the 2019 Cougar Classic, held Friday afternoon at the Colfax Golf Club
WSU WOMEN
The Cougars totaled 43 overall points in the race, with Gonzaga finishing second with 48 points and Idaho collecting 64 points for third.
The top finisher for the Cougars was sophomore Zorana Grujic, who placed third overall in a time of 21:32.2 seconds. Fellow Cougar Josie Brown crossed next at 21:36, finishing fourth overall. WSU then saw four runners cross in order as Kiyena Beatty (21:58.4), Marie Gaudin (22:00.5), Melissa Hruska (22:01.2) and Kaili Keefe (22:04.7) finished 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th, respectively.
Desi Stinger posted a time of 22:13.1 to finish 22nd overall while Natalie Ackerley crossed the finish line in 25th place with a time of 22:17.4. Rounding out the squad for WSU was Jelena Grujic (22:54.5) in 44th place, Samantha Boyle (22:57.5) in 47th, and Pia Richards (22:57.8) in 48th.
WSU MEN
The men's program, currently ranked ninth overall in the west region, finished second Friday behind Gonzaga and ahead of third-place Idaho.
The Cougars placed four runners in the Top 14, anchored by junior Matthew Watkins, who finished eighth in a time of 24:42.9. Teammate Colton Johnsen finished less than a second behind Watkins at 24:43.7 for ninth while Justin Janke crossed the line in a time of 24:50.9 for 12th. Sam Griffith rounded out the quartet in a time of 24:56.7 for 14th overall.
Three other Cougars competed Friday as Nate Pendleton turned in a 26th place finish with a time of 25:11.7, with fellow Cougars Jacob Nicholson in 36th (25:20.7) and Amrit Banga 80th (26:46.2).
INTO THE TWITTER-VERSE
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Washington State cross country is back in action next, Saturday, Sept. 28 at the Bill Dellinger Invitational, held at the Springfield Golf Club (Springfield, Ore.).
WSU WOMEN
The Cougars totaled 43 overall points in the race, with Gonzaga finishing second with 48 points and Idaho collecting 64 points for third.
The top finisher for the Cougars was sophomore Zorana Grujic, who placed third overall in a time of 21:32.2 seconds. Fellow Cougar Josie Brown crossed next at 21:36, finishing fourth overall. WSU then saw four runners cross in order as Kiyena Beatty (21:58.4), Marie Gaudin (22:00.5), Melissa Hruska (22:01.2) and Kaili Keefe (22:04.7) finished 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th, respectively.
Desi Stinger posted a time of 22:13.1 to finish 22nd overall while Natalie Ackerley crossed the finish line in 25th place with a time of 22:17.4. Rounding out the squad for WSU was Jelena Grujic (22:54.5) in 44th place, Samantha Boyle (22:57.5) in 47th, and Pia Richards (22:57.8) in 48th.
WSU MEN
The men's program, currently ranked ninth overall in the west region, finished second Friday behind Gonzaga and ahead of third-place Idaho.
The Cougars placed four runners in the Top 14, anchored by junior Matthew Watkins, who finished eighth in a time of 24:42.9. Teammate Colton Johnsen finished less than a second behind Watkins at 24:43.7 for ninth while Justin Janke crossed the line in a time of 24:50.9 for 12th. Sam Griffith rounded out the quartet in a time of 24:56.7 for 14th overall.
Three other Cougars competed Friday as Nate Pendleton turned in a 26th place finish with a time of 25:11.7, with fellow Cougars Jacob Nicholson in 36th (25:20.7) and Amrit Banga 80th (26:46.2).
INTO THE TWITTER-VERSE
Cougs are ready to takeover the @NCAATrackField Instagram this Friday!! 😁 #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/UGHqGKIGty
— Washington State XC/TF (@WSUCougarXCTF) September 10, 2019
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Washington State cross country is back in action next, Saturday, Sept. 28 at the Bill Dellinger Invitational, held at the Springfield Golf Club (Springfield, Ore.).
Players Mentioned
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