Bobeya Krishnek

UP senior Bobeya Krishnek wins the women’s race, while redshirt freshman Andy Edick is the men’s runner-up

PORTLAND, Ore. --- The University of Portland cross country teams got off to a fast start to open the 2007 season as the Pilots swept the West Coast Preview at Pier Park on Friday. Portland’s men, ranked No. 14 in the USTFCCCA preseason poll, cruised to a victory as five Pilots finished among the top 10. Senior Bobeya Krishnek won the women’s race and led eight Pilots among the top 10 individuals.

The Portland men, running its ‘B’ team, had a score of 31 to claim the title. Boise State (69), Western Oregon (86), Pepperdine (91) and Seattle University (123) rounded out the top five of the 10-team field. Gonzaga’s Colby Litzenberger won the individual title with a time of 25:05.70 at the 8,000-kilometer course.

UP’s women posted a dominating score of 17 as a sea of Purple crossed the line first. Krishnek’s time of 21:43.36 paced the women’s field at the 6,000-kilometer course. She was followed by junior Amie Dahnke (21:44), sophomore Dana Morgan (21:45), and senior Allison Ritchie (21:49). Boise State’s Breanne Sande snuck in for a fifth place finish with a time of 21:59, and she was followed by four more Pilots.

Boise State placed second on the women’s side with a score of 51, while Pepperdine took third with 89.

Portland redshirt freshman Andrew Edick (25:18.70) and redshirt junior Rob Schlegel (25:25.50) finished second and third in the men’s race. Fellow Pilots Jeff Gill, Trevor Jennings, and Kevin Zelenak also earned top 10 finishes.

A total of 81 runners competed in the women’s race, while 90 entrants took part in the men’s meet.

Portland will next head to the Bill Dellinger Invitational on Sept. 29, hosted by the University of Oregon.