Women’s Cross Country
The Azusa Pacific women’s cross country team finished second in the PacWest, just 59 seconds behind 2014 PacWest Champions California Baptist at the conference championship meet before going on to finish ninth at the NCAA Division II Cross Country West Regional Championships Nov. 22. The Cougars finished within 13 points of the sixth-place Western Washington team, which received the final team qualifier for the national meet.
“It’s a tough region,” said head coach Preston Grey. “We knew it would be really close in those last couple spots.”
Senior transfer Staci Foster, PacWest newcomer of the year, did secure an individual qualification for nationals at the meet. She finished in the sixth position overall, just 17 seconds behind the meet’s first-place finisher, Katelyn Steen from Western Washington. Foster will compete at the NCAA national championship meet Dec. 6 in Louisville, Kentucky.
Photo Courtesy: APU Sports Information
Sophomore Kylie Betts (left) was the squad’s second finisher while Staci Foster (right) led the way for the Cougars at the regional meet on Nov. 22.
This has been Foster’s goal since her freshman year at the University of Colorado, where she spent four seasons training with the Buffs before transferring to APU.
“She brought that experience that you could only get at those top programs and that was huge,” Grey said. “It’s been great for the young girls to learn from her.”
The women’s squad will lose Foster as well as seniors Kristie Sikma, Elle Farrar and Elizabeth Lyons. Sikma was a second-team All-PacWest selection this season while Lyons was named to the third team.
The Cougars, however, will return freshman Eileen Stressling and sophomore Kylie Betts, who were the squad’s second- and third-team finishers at the regional meet. Stressling was selected to the second-team All-PacWest, while Betts was selected to the third-team All-PacWest.
Men’s Cross Country
The men’s cross country team finished third in the conference before recording a ninth-place finish at the regional meet. California Baptist was the only PacWest squad at regionals to claim a team qualification for nationals.
“We’re in the toughest region in Division II,” said senior Peter Buscheck. “With that, it’s going to be more difficult to qualify for nationals, but if this year is any indication of future years, they should be encouraged and fired up because our freshman had good races and that shows they can compete under pressure.”
Freshman Jeremy Porter was the team’s top finisher at the regional meet, coming in 27th overall. Porter was joined by two other freshmen in the team’s top-five finishers: Cody Drisko and Hunter Gulino.
Photo Courtesy: APU Sports Information
Freshman Cody Drisko (left), Jeremy Porter (center), Kyle Bueckert (right) competed at the regional meet in Billings, Mont.
The squad was just one minute and 25 seconds in collective time behind the sixth-place Simon Fraser squad that sealed the regional meet’s final national qualifier.
“We learned how close we are – we’re on the right track,” Grey said. “Couple things go a little differently at regionals and we’re going to nationals. We’re on the cusp.”
While the squad will lose Buscheck, a first-team All-PacWest selection, it’s expected to bring back the freshmen class as well as sophomore Kyle Bueckert, who was another steady top finisher for the Cougars, coming in third of the team’s top five at regionals. Porter, Drisko and Bueckert each are on the All-PacWest third-team.
“We’re one or two guys away from really, really being good,” Grey said. “With recruiting, we’re going to be really tough these next couple years.”