The University of Portland Cross Country teams opened their seasons today with a 7.6K race for the men and a 6K race for the women at Pier Park in Portland, OR. Pier Park’s course was hot and humid at 90 degrees, but the weather was no factor in Portland’s success on the course today. The Pilot men raced their ‘B’ squad and notched a first-place showing with 22 points over in-state rival Oregon (also raced their ‘B’ squad) with 34 points. Portland State defeated the Pilot ‘B’ team, 24-33. Portland State’s men’s team topped Oregon’s ‘B’ squad, 23-35. The Pilot women defeated Portland State, 26-31. Willamette University also raced today, but were not scored against Portland, Oregon and Portland State.

Claiming his first win of the 2002 season, Portland’s Kevin Smith crossed the line first (24:31.5), just ahead of Oregon’s Shane Ahlers (24:44.0) and Willamette’s Nick Symmonds (24:49.0).

"Kevin Smith was a late addition to the meet and did a great job," said Head Coach Rob Conner. "Kevin ran comfortably in the lead the entire race. It was basically just a workout for him."

Other Portland finishers included Chad Killian (fifth, 24:58), Brandon Weddm (15th, 26:00), Brian Murphy (21st, 26:42), Brett Hargrave (23rd, 26:45) Josh Singsaas (28th, 27:27) and Scott Ruppel (38th, 29:57).

“Chad Kilian put in more summer milage that anyone on our team,” said Conner. “He was an all-WCC runner last year and has really improved.”

For the women, Pilot veteran Nicole Ricci finished first overall on the Pier Park 5,000-meter course in a time of 18:29.8. Teammate Alison Smith came in at a close second-place with a time of 18:57.

“Nicole Ricci and Alison Smith give us possibly the best one-two punch in the Northwest,” said Conner. “They are off to a great start. Nicole has worked hard to regain the fitness she had prior to her injury when she was an individual qualifier for the NCAA Cross Country Championships in 2000.”

Other Pilot scorers included Hannah Coombe (sixth, 19:33), Jodi Minard (ninth, 19:53), Kathy Rice (10th, 19:59), Kristen Rohde (11th, 19:59), Elise Sabin (13th, 20:14), Sarah Grue (16th, 20:21), Whitney Niemcziek (17th, 20:34), Michelle Pierce (22nd, 20:55), Erin Ferguson (30th, 21:37), April Hanry (32nd, 21:50), Erin Gerhardt (34th, 21:55) and Jennifer Smith (37th, 23:32).

UP NEXT (MEN): On Sat. Oct. 5, the Pilots will participate in the Willamette Invitational at Bush Park in Salem, OR at 10:00 a.m. (WOMEN): Portland will compete in the Sundodger Invitational on Sat., Sept. 21 at Lincoln Park in Seattle, WA at 9:00 a.m.

FINAL RESULTS (DUAL SCORES)

Men’s Team Results - Portland 'B' 22, Oregon 'B' 34. Portland State 24, Portland 'B' 33. Portland State 23, Oregon ‘B’ 35.

Men’s Individual Results - 1, Kevin Smith, UP, 24:31.5; 2, Shane Ahlers, UO, 24:44; 3, Nick Symmonds, WU, 24:49; 4, Evan Garich, PSU, 24:54; 5, Chad Killianm, UP, 24:58; 6, Scott Overby, WU, 24:59; 7, Chris Hollis, PSU, 25:00; 8, Will Viviani, UO, 25:15; 9, Aaron Hollingshead, WU, 25:27; 10, John Osborne, WU, 25:32; 11, Michael Devenport, PSU, 25:33; 12, Brendan Brown, WU, 25:39; 13, Paul Loprinzi, PSU, 25:43; 14, Bill Dolan, PSU, 25:45; 15, Brandon Weddm, UP, 26:00; 16, Mike Kebbe, PSU, 26:01; 17, John Edson, WU, 26:03; 18, Mark Welsh, WU, 26:04; 19, Jamie Trimble, WU, 26:21; Noah Megowan, unattached, 26:29; 21, Brian Murphy, UP, 26:42; 22, John Konrad, WU, 26:44; 23, Brett Hargrave, UP, 26:45; 24, Nathan Love, WU, 26:44; 25, Richard Scott, UO, 26:51; 26, Collin Stark-Benz, UO, 26:55; 27, Conor Lucas Roberts, WU, 26:59; 29, Carlos Ruiz, WU, 27:31; 30, Ryan Flaherty, UO, 27:35; 31, Blake Flanders, PSU, 27:40; 32 Cooper Golden, WU, 27:46; 33, Ben Zieger, WU, 28:04; 34, Micah Evans, WU, 28:39; 35, Nate Parker, WU, 28:39; 36, Erik Cameron, WU, 29:16; 37, Tyler Baker, WU, 29:36; 38, Scott Ruppel, UP, 29:57; 39, Dan Kenagy, WU, 31:16; 40, Everett Thomas, WU, 31:17; 41, Dan Humphrey, WU, 31:19; 42, Brad Kehr, 34:59.

Women’s Team Results - Portland 26, Portland State 31.

Women’s Individual Results - 1, Nicole Ricci, UP, 18:29.8; 2, Allison Smith, UP, 18:57; 3, Jenny Rodgers, PSU, 19:01; 4, Annie Kawasaki, PSU, 19:07; 5, Brynn Gogdill, PSU, 19:22; 6, Hannah Coombe, UP, 19:33; 7, Mandy Peterson, PSU, 19:39; 8, Kari Holbert, WU, 19:47; 9, Jodi Minard, UP, 19:53; 10, Kathy Rice, UP, 19:57; 11, Kristen Rohde, UP, 19:59; 12, Katie Pierce, WU, 20:12; 13, Elise Sabin, UP, 20:14; 14, Andrea Schwartz, PSU, 20:17; 15, Lauren Sherwood, WU, 20:21; 16, Sarah Grue, UP, 20:21; 17, Whitney Niemcziek, UP, 20:34; 18, Hilary Young, PSU, 20:35; 19, Nattalie Wright, WU, 20:45; 20, Evelyn Williams, WU, 20:45; 21, Molly Brady, WU, 20:48; 22, Michelle Pierce, UP, 20:55; 23, Mallory, Moye, PSU, 20:55; 24, Natalie Muren, WU, 20:57; 25, Megan Flora, WU, 21:09; 26, Amber Emery, WU, 21:16; 27, Barrett Ebright, WU, 21:23; 28, Nicole Lindquist, WU, 21:25; 29, Stephanie Vandehey, WU, 21:33; 30, Erin Ferguson, UP, 21:37; 31, Alicia Andrews, WU, 21:48; 32, April Haury, UP, 21:50; 33, Alisa Rawe, WU, 21:54; 34, Erin Gerhardt, UP, 21:55; 35, Jessie Enell, WU, 22:17; 36, KJatie D’Ambrosid, WU, 23:15, 37, Jennifer Smith, UP, 23:28; 38, Leah Rinfreh, WU, 23:32; 39, Beth Phillips, WU, 23:41.