2012 Pacific West Conference Cross Country Championships Men's Results

2012 Pacific West Conference Cross Country Championships Women's Results

Photo Gallery (images by Michael Nevins)

Kahuku, HI -- A hot and humid Saturday morning challenged all competing in the Pacific West Conference Cross Country Championships, but the Academy of Art University cross country teams persevered to offer an impressive showing. Senior Jenny Bergren won the race outright for the 8th place women while freshman Clemens Kammer's 4th place result led the men to 5th overall. Also among the highlights were freshman Arianna Michaels earning 7th place and Jack Nevins taking 9th overall.

"The heat was a big presence in the race today for everybody out there," assistant coach Torrey Olson said. "The team really respected it because you can't conquer conditions like that, you can just conquer yourself in that environment and I thought our team did a great job of that today."

Pushing through the challenging weather conditions, Bergren wisely paced herself early in the 5k race through Kahuku Golf Course. The senior then took command around the course's midpoint and was able to get far enough ahead that no other competitors were even close to her when she crossed the finish line in 1st at 18:09.35. Bergren, dominant as ever for the All-PacWest First Team honor, was a full 21 seconds in front of the next finisher.

"Jenny ran a great and patient race," Coach Olson said. "She went out very conservatively and, about halfway through, she took charge and never looked back."

Michaels continued her inspiring freshman season with a 7th place finish which Coach Olson called "remarkable." Similarly to Bergren, Michaels made her move after the first mile and ended up crossing with a time of 19:08.5. She was the highest finishing freshman from any of the 13 teams competing on the women's side and All-PacWest First Team.

"Arianna moved from up from 29th at the mile and then was 7th overall making her not only the top freshman, but the best second woman of any team," Coach Olson said. "She did exactly what she was supposed to do. I'm really proud of her because for a freshman to run a race with the patience that she did, it was remarkable."

Crossing 31st overall, senior Zoë Meyers came through with a time of 20:23.1 to best several runners including her Hawaii Pacific counterpart by four spots in the third position. The 66th and 67th place results belonged to senior Cassandra Schumacher (22:15.3) and junior Sophia Ditty (22:18.35) respectively. Finally, junior Kylie Long snagged a 77th place finish with a time of 23:26.85. The ART U women's team claimed 8th, beating out both Chaminade and Fresno Pacific among others.

"On the women's side, it was really a struggle for those who not able to run with the heat acclimatization preparation, but I was very proud of everyone in the race because they all ran hard and smart," Coach Olson said. "It just doesn't always work how you're hoping it's going to and the women will have another shot at this course [at NCAA Regionals] so I'm looking forward to that."

   

Team	Points
1. Azusa Pacific University	62
2. California Baptist University	74
3. Grand Canyon University	86
4. Dixie State College	111
5. BYU-Hawaii	140
6. Hawaii Pacific University	151
7. Point Loma Nazarene University	156
8. Academy of Art University	172
9. Chaminade University	273
10. Fresno Pacific University	292
11. Holy Names University	310
12. University of Hawaii - Hilo	325
13. Dominican University	355
14. Notre Dame de Namur University	371

  Exceeding all expectations according to Coach Olson, the ART U men's team completed what should be considered their best collective performance of the season on Saturday. Kammer was out in front once again, using a late burst to bypass 11 runners from the first mile to the race's end. Kammer's 4th place finish, which was the best of any freshman and gave him All-PacWest First Team, and his time of 26:15.95 were good enough to keep him a full four seconds in front of the 5th place runner. Nevins also added a strong 8k run of 26:35.15, using a similar strategy as his teammate to capture 9th overall and an All-PacWest Second Team honor in the process.

"The men's team went in with a strategy of respecting heat and pacing themselves early," Coach Olson said. "I thought they did a great job of focusing the last two miles on being competitive and beating people. Every guy moved up in last two miles. Clemens and Jack moved up from 15 and 16 at the mile to both Top 10 by end."

For all the success in the top, it was the Urban Knights' supporting cast that shined in the PacWest Championships. Sophomore Temarius Walker, who was aptly prepared for the extreme difference in heat compared to San Francisco, came in at 33rd with a time of 28:06.35. It was his second lowest time of the year. The fourth ART U finisher was sophomore Thomas Benson in 56th place. Benson posted a new lifetime best of 29:30.9 despite the challenging humidity.

"Temarius ran very well," Coach Olson said. "He picked people off in those last three miles and Thomas was right around his PR which almost no one was today because of the conditions. Like Temarius, he ran very patiently and picked off guys at end. Those two and their progress in the last two miles were the reason we could be fifth at the end."

Rounding out the Academy of Art University men's team, freshman Shaquille Howard offered a mark good for 81st (36:55.7) and freshman Austin Nash crossed in 84th (39:02.85). Overall, the men finished 5th as a team in front of Dixie State and host Hawaii Pacific.
   

Team	Points
1. California Baptist University	40
2. BYU-Hawaii	66
3. Grand Canyon University	100
4. Azusa Pacific University	139
5. Academy of Art University	183
6. Dixie State College	194
7. Hawaii Pacific University	205
7. Fresno Pacific University	205
9. Point Loma Nazarene University	217
10. Notre Dame de Namur University	241
11. Chaminade University	250
12. Holy Names University	251
13. Dominican University	354

After becoming full-fledged members of the NCAA this past summer, Academy of Art University intends to send two of its men, Kammer and Nevins, along with a team of five women to NCAA Division II Regionals to be held on Nov. 3 on the same course in Hawaii.