Sophomore Zach Carpenter and junior Brittany Castillo led the way for the Vikings Saturday morning at the 2011 Big Sky cross country championship in Pocatello, Idaho.
Carpenter finished 26th overall with a time of 26:44:44 in the 8,000-meter race, while Castillo crossed the line 49th overall, clocking in at 27:57:69 in the 5,000-meter.
Their finishes highlighted an otherwise forgettable performance by the Vikings, as both men’s and women’s squads finished last in their races with scores of 236 and 273, respectively.
“We didn’t exactly meet the goals that we had set for ourselves,” Carpenter said. “It is unfortunate, but we gave it everything that we came with.”
Weber State’s women’s squad took home the team title with a score of 40 total points, holding off host-school Idaho State, who finished with 50. Amber Henry won the women’s individual title, shattering a course record with 17:30:5, the first individual title for the Wildcats since 2007. The team title was the first for Weber State since 2006 and fifth overall.
The top six runners in the women’s race beat the course record set in 2002 by Ida Nilsson of Northern Arizona with a time of 18:16.1.
“I knew our team would do well because we trained really well,” Henry said.
The men from Northern Arizona cruised to their fifth straight conference title after Diego Estrada picked up the individual title with 24:15:43 in the 8,000-m race. The Lumberjacks had three runners finish in the top five and finished with a score of 26.
The win was NAU’s 21st overall team title.
“This isn’t a meet we take lightly,” Estrada said. “This is something that means a lot to the program, so we are just happy we could come out on top again.”
Despite the unfortunate result for the Vikings, Carpenter is looking forward to the next season.
“We are taking a planned week off now to reset our bodies and minds and to catch up on the other important things in our lives,” Carpenter said. “This week is refreshing but as soon as we are done, indoor track begins.”
Other notable results for the Vikings women were Keikoanne Hollins, who finished 52nd overall with a 25:56.10 finishing time, as well as Brandy Castillo who finished just behind her teammate with 26:11.81.
Other men’s results for the Vikings included a 42nd overall finish from sophomore Cary Dunagan with 27:27.36, and Josue Rodriguez, another sophomore, who came in at for a 51st overall (28:29.87) finish.