Season ends on best regional finish

Friday, November 15

Colfax, Wash.

9 a.m.

Grand Canyon

NCAA West Regional

11/16/2019 3:49:00 PM | Cross Country, Women's Cross Country

Women take 18th place at NCAA West Regional

By: Makenna Pellerin

COLFAX, Wash. – The Grand Canyon women's cross country team recorded its best regional finish as the Lopes teams concluded their season at the NCAA West Regional on Friday.

The GCU women's team placed 18th, which is three spots higher than last season's previous top mark. The Lopes were just five points behind 17th-place Arizona State in the 35-team field at Colfax Golf Club.

"It was a really good day for our group," Lopes head coach Sara Slattery said. "I am proud of the women's team. They had their highest finish as a men's cross country west regionals

team. Elizabeth (Balsan) had our highest finish as an individual. She, Paige (Hildebrandt) and Erika (Wallace) have been an amazing trio."

Senior Elizabeth Balsan led the way for the Lopes again when she crossed the finish line in 21 minutes, 8 seconds to place 59th overall. That breaks the highest place for a female GCU runner in the past three NCAA Division I West Regional meets.

Seniors Paige Hildebrandt and Erika Wallace were next to cross the finish line for the Lopes at 12:10.3 for 62nd place and 21:27.7 for 89th place, respectively.

"I am proud of our crew this weekend," Slattery said. "The West region is the toughest region in the country. We are continuing to improve each year and set bigger goals. I'm really proud of this group and excited for the future of our program."

As for the Lopes men, redshirt freshman Jacob Lewis was first across the line with a time of 31:47.1 in the 10-kilometer format, a change from the regular-season distance of 8 kilometers. Running as an individual entry, he placed 103rd among 191 regional runners. Freshman Rylan Stubbs and senior Matthew Anciaux were close behind for GCU with times of 32:27.7 and 32:31.5, respectively.

"Jacob and Rylan ran their first 10Ks and it is an adjustment and a learning curve," Slattery said. "Matt had his best regional finish of his career at GCU."