CHENEY, Wash. – The Whitworth University women were the top non-Division I team on Friday morning at the Clash of the Inland Northwest, finishing ahead of Lewis-Clark State, CC of Spokane and Walla Walla to take fourth place overall. The Pirate men were fifth.
Abby Staley crossed the line in 21st place with a time of 14:46.5 on the four-kilometer course. Gonzaga University's Jade Rypkema won the race in 13:36.1.
Kezlie Thygesen had nearly a minute's improvement from 2023 to 2024 on the same course, finishing in 39th place with a time of 15:05.5. Ashlyn Dary took 43rd place in 15:16.7, while Mikayla Buckley finished 49th in 15:40.1. Madilyn Danaraj was 51st (15:46.5) as the fifth Pirate across the line.
The final women's team scores were: Gonzaga 15, Eastern Washington 51, Idaho 79, Whitworth 125, LCSC 130, CC of Spokane 168, Walla Walla 217.
The Pirate men took fifth place in the meet, defeating Whitman and CC of Spokane.
James Dugenet as Whitworth's first man across the line, taking 29th place in 18:53.2 on the six-kilometer racecourse. Ryan Mitchell of Gonzaga finished first in 18:12.1.
London Haley was close behind his teammate in 35th place with a time of 19:01.7. Alex Peters took 41st in 19:21.9 and Nick Baker finished 44th in 19:28.7, an improvement of over 90 seconds from last season. Noah Mitton, a first year Pirate, was the fifth Whitworth runner in 56th place (19:56.5).
The final men's team scores were: Gonzaga 19, Eastern Washington 54, Lewis-Clark St. 92, Idaho 93, Whitworth 133, Whitman 143, CC of Spokane 200.
The Pirates will be back in action on September 13th at the Washington State Invitational in Colfax.
