Race Results
FAIRBANKS, Alaska - Northwest Nazarene's Barak Watson won the first race of the season this afternoon at the University of Alaska Fairbanks West Ridge Course, leading his Crusader team to a pair of victories in the tri-match format. On the women's side, Jaclyn Puga led the Crusaders with a third-place finish, but the NNU ladies team fell to both UAF and Seattle Pacific in the tri-match point totals.
Watson's winning time of 26:30 paced the NNU effort and Jesse Baggenstos finished third with 27:02. Neil Easter was sixth (27:32), Matt Rankin was seventh (27:33), and Luke Hetrick was eighth (27:35) as all five NNU runners finished inside the top-10.
The Crusaders scored 25 points in the men's race, followed by UAF with 48 and Seattle Pacific with 51.
Puga's third place time of 23:08 led the Crusader women's team, while Meagan Swenson was 13th (25:13), Ashley Rendahl was 15th (25:35), Sam Hill was 18th (26:57), and Danielle Beesley was 20th (28:53). Point totals for the team scoring went to UAF with 27, Seattle Pacific was second with 42, and the Crusaders third with 63.
Seattle Pacific's Natty Plunkett won the women's race with a time of 22:30.
The three teams will compete again on Saturday afternoon in Fairbanks.