Cross Country to Compete at NCAA West Regional

MALIBU, California – The Pepperdine men's and women's cross country teams are headed to Colfax, Washington for their final meet of the season. They will compete at the NCAA West Regional on Friday morning.

The men's team had their best finish since 1996 last year, at the NCAA West Regional, placing 18th. While the women's team placed 34th last year, which was their best result since 2014. Both teams will look to improve on these standings this weekend.

MEET DETAILS

The race will be hosted by Washington State University at Colfax Golf Club in Colfax, Wash. on Friday (November 15). The women's 6K will start at 11:30 a.m., followed by the men's 10K at 12:30 p.m.

MEN'S TEAM

The men's cross country team has appeared twice this season in the NCAA West Region rankings by U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. They made the preseason poll at #14 and the week of Oct. 21 at #14.

Sophomore Karl Winter (Stockton, Calif./Saint Mary's HS) has led the Waves for the men in four of the five meets this season. His season-best showing was at the Bronco Invitational, where he posted a time of 24:31.3 in the men's 8K.

The Waves #2-5 runners for the WCC Championship were sophomore Kyle McCabe (Westminster, Colo./Holy Family HS), sophomore Jackson Felkins (Clearwater, Fla./Palm Harbor University HS), junior Preston Gromer (Casper, Wyo./Kelly Walsh HS) and senior Jalen Frantal (Westerville, Ohio/Westerville Central HS).

This will be the first time this season that the men race in the 10K. Felkins currently sits at the #2 spot on the Waves all-time 10K performance list from last years' NCAA West Regional with a time of 30:43.2.

WOMEN'S TEAM

Freshman Skyler Danley (Easton, Pa./Easton Area HS) has been the lead runner for four out of the five meets this season. Danley had her best performance in the women's 6K at the Bronco Invitational posting a personal record. Her time of 22:09.1 moved her into the 10th spot on the Pepperdine all-time performance list.

Senior Cori Persinger (Lee's Summit, Mo./Lee's Summit West HS) has also been one of the top runners for the Waves this season. She has consistently recorded the second-best time on the team during the regular season with one showing as the top runner during the Capital Cross Challenge. Her time of 22:15.0 in the women's 6K at the Capital Cross Challenge was a personal record and moved her up to the number 12 position on the Pepperdine all-time performance list.

Sophomore Key Pearson (Bainridge Island, Wash./Vistamar School) was the #2 runner at the WCC Championship, followed by Persinger in #3, Riley Wright (Corona Del Sol HS/Chandler, Ariz.) in #4 and Olivia Miller (Lawton Chiles HS/Tallahassee, Fla.) rounding out the #5 spot.

QUOTABLE

Head coach Sylvia Mosqueda says: "I am super excited for Regionals for both the men and women, they are ready to go. I am proud of all the efforts they have put in during this cross country season. On the men's side, their workouts have been amazing, and I see a great race coming from them in this 10K. On the women's side, this will be a new and good experience for the freshman and I want my seniors to have a great day and to enjoy every minute of their last cross country race for Pepperdine."

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Skyler Danley

Jackson Felkins

Jalen Frantal

Preston Gromer

Kyle McCabe

Olivia Miller

Key Pearson

Cori Persinger

Karl Winter

Riley Wright

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