Completed Event: Cross Country at George Kyte Classic on August 30, 2025 , , M: 3rd out of 13 | W: 6th out of 10
XC
at George Kyte Classic
M: 3rd out of 13 | W: 6th out of 10
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Saturday, October 31
Orem, Utah
Grand Canyon
at
WAC Championships
Lopes Take On WAC Championships Saturday
10/30/2015 12:07:00 PM | Cross Country, Women's Cross Country
PHOENIX – Wrapping up their season at the Western Athletic Conference Championship, the Grand Canyon University men's and women's cross country teams will take on the other conference teams tomorrow in Orem, Utah. This will be their first year competing under the guidance of head coach Sara Slattery.
In the coaches' pre-championship polls released earlier this week, the women's team was predicted for a third place finish, while the men were predicted fifth.
The meet will feature strong competition including the regionally ranked hosts, Utah Valley, competing on their home course of Lakeside Park. The Wolverine's men's squad is currently ranked ninth in the USTFCCA Regional Rankings, while their women's team is ranked 14th. Also competing in the men's meet, will be 15th ranked New Mexico State.
This marks the third year GCU has competed in the WAC Championship. Last season, both teams raced to a fifth place finish in Edinburg, Tex.
This season Grand Canyon's men's squad has been led by redshirt-sophomore Samuel Proctor in four out of five meets. Proctor has had a breakout season, beating his personal records on all of the courses he's faced. Some highlights of his season include placing 21st against strong competition at the Rim Rock Farm Classic and a seventh place finish at the George Kyte Classic with an over two-minute improvement from last season. He has also earned WAC Runner of the Week twice.
Senior Matthew Jackson, junior Jose Retana, freshman Brendan Wagler, and sophomore Chris Baker have also had strong placement during the season and have been consistently in the Lopes top-five. Jackson and Baker both competed on the squad last season and have earned several new personal records.
For the women's team, senior Kelsi Klotter has led the team with four top-finishes. She has earned WAC Runner of the Week on two occasions. At Kansas' Rim Rock Farm Classic, she led the women to their team-best third place finish, placing 10th and beating her record on the course by over a minute. She also earned top-10 finishes at the Mustang Challenge and George Kyte Classic, rounding out the season with top-25 placement at the competitive Bronco Invitational.
Throughout the season, redshirt-junior Emily Wilkinson and sophomore Mariah Montoya have consistently been close behind Klotter on the course to mark GCU's top-three. Along with Klotter, Wilkinson and Montoya also posted top-20 finishes in Kansas placing 16th and 17, respectively. Seniors Rebekah Young and Kendra Altman have also earned top-five finishes for GCU.
Due to the NCAA-mandated probation period for schools transitioning to Division I, the teams are able to compete in the conference championships, but will not be eligible for the NCAA Championship.
The men's 8k event will begin at 8 a.m., while the women's 5k will be raced at 9 a.m. A full recap will be available at www.gculopes.com following the meet.
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In the coaches' pre-championship polls released earlier this week, the women's team was predicted for a third place finish, while the men were predicted fifth.
The meet will feature strong competition including the regionally ranked hosts, Utah Valley, competing on their home course of Lakeside Park. The Wolverine's men's squad is currently ranked ninth in the USTFCCA Regional Rankings, while their women's team is ranked 14th. Also competing in the men's meet, will be 15th ranked New Mexico State.
This marks the third year GCU has competed in the WAC Championship. Last season, both teams raced to a fifth place finish in Edinburg, Tex.
This season Grand Canyon's men's squad has been led by redshirt-sophomore Samuel Proctor in four out of five meets. Proctor has had a breakout season, beating his personal records on all of the courses he's faced. Some highlights of his season include placing 21st against strong competition at the Rim Rock Farm Classic and a seventh place finish at the George Kyte Classic with an over two-minute improvement from last season. He has also earned WAC Runner of the Week twice.
Senior Matthew Jackson, junior Jose Retana, freshman Brendan Wagler, and sophomore Chris Baker have also had strong placement during the season and have been consistently in the Lopes top-five. Jackson and Baker both competed on the squad last season and have earned several new personal records.
For the women's team, senior Kelsi Klotter has led the team with four top-finishes. She has earned WAC Runner of the Week on two occasions. At Kansas' Rim Rock Farm Classic, she led the women to their team-best third place finish, placing 10th and beating her record on the course by over a minute. She also earned top-10 finishes at the Mustang Challenge and George Kyte Classic, rounding out the season with top-25 placement at the competitive Bronco Invitational.
Throughout the season, redshirt-junior Emily Wilkinson and sophomore Mariah Montoya have consistently been close behind Klotter on the course to mark GCU's top-three. Along with Klotter, Wilkinson and Montoya also posted top-20 finishes in Kansas placing 16th and 17, respectively. Seniors Rebekah Young and Kendra Altman have also earned top-five finishes for GCU.
Due to the NCAA-mandated probation period for schools transitioning to Division I, the teams are able to compete in the conference championships, but will not be eligible for the NCAA Championship.
The men's 8k event will begin at 8 a.m., while the women's 5k will be raced at 9 a.m. A full recap will be available at www.gculopes.com following the meet.
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Players Mentioned
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
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