MONMOUTH, Ore. – The cross country seasons for Chaminade University came to a conclusion Saturday with members of both women's and men's teams competing Saturday at the NCAA West Regional hosted by Western Oregon University.
The Silverswords women wrapped up one of its most successful seasons in program history, finishing 24th with 762 points at the 6-kilometer Ash Creek Preserve course. The area was saturated with rain the day prior and continued intermittingly prior to and during the races with temperatures in the mid-50s.
Nikiji Dayse (Memphis, Tenn./Bartlett) was Chaminade's top finisher, placing 148th overall and a time of 26 minutes, 16.2 seconds. The team's lone senior,
Caitlin Bocobo (Mililani, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mililani) wrapped up her career just 11 seconds behind at 26:27.1
Cassie Chong (Mililani, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mililani) finished the course in 27:42.5, followed by
Leila-Jayne Casison (Waipahu, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Waipahu) at 28:36.0 and
Jordyn Koki (Ewa Beach, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Kamehameha-Kapalama) at 29:48.7.
The 'Swords women were making their first NCAA postseason appearance since 2012.
The men's team had two members running as individuals, meaning they were eligible to qualify for the national championships if finishing high enough in the results.
Mason Stewart (Uniontown, Pa./Uniontown) clocked in the men's 10-k race at 35:16.4, finishing 139th overall while
Peter Jan Ramos (Waipahu, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Waipahu) ended his career, coming in at 36:53.9.
Stewart and Ramos were the first 'Swords' men's runners to compete at a regional since 2013.
Western Washington was crowned West Regional women's champion with Kendall Kramer of Alaska winning the individual women's race. The Pacific West Conference had six women's teams in the event with Biola earning a trip to the NCAA Championships in Joplin, Missouri, by finishing as runners-up. The Eagles' Susanne Bruenning finished second in the women's race.
On the men's side, Chico State won the regional title with the PacWest's Azusa Pacific taking runners-up kudos. Central Washington's Johan Correra was the individual medalist with APU's Juan Diego Castro the runner-up. APU will also be headed to Joplin for the men's nationals.
