The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
W Mountain Race on October 12
Both the men’s and women’s Western State Colorado University cross country programs finished as the top NCAA Division II teams at the Rocky Mountain Shootout in Boulder on Saturday. The Mountaineer men finished in first with 15 points, while the women finished first with 21 points.
The Mountaineer men, led by Vegard Olstad (Jr., Gjovik, Norway), finished ahead of Division II teams Colorado Mines, Colorado Mesa, Colorado Christian, Gillette, South Dakota Mines and Regis. Olstad, the top Division II finisher with a time of 25:38, was third overall, finishing just four seconds behind first place.
The Mountaineer men finished first through seventh, taking every top Division II spot. Tyler Saiz (Fr., Albuquerque, N.M.) finished second, Keifer Johnson (RFr., Highlands Ranch, Colo.) was third, Garrett Wilson (Sr., Highlands Ranch, Colo.) was fourth, Adam Sinda (Sr., Arvada, Colo.) was fifth, Michael Schmidt (Sr., Pueblo, Colo.) was sixth and Michael Cernoia (RSo., Pueblo, Colo.) was seventh.
For the women, Tara Richardson (Sr., Wiggins, Colo.) was the top Division II finisher with a time of 22:02. Anna Marshall (Sr., Pueblo, Colo.) was second and Julie Pack (RSo., Glendale, Ariz.) finished just behind Marshall in third. Melanie Becic (RJr., Portland, Ore.) finished seventh, Cassie Ortiz (Sr., Fort Collins, Colo.) was eighth, Torie Weprin (Jr., Lafayette, Colo.) was ninth and Cali Antolini (So., Fountain, Colo.) was tenth.
The Mountaineers will compete at home for their next two meets. Starting with the Mountaineer Open on Saturday, October 5. Western track and field and cross country will host the 63rd running of the W Mountain Race on Saturday, October 12.
