Two Bothell residents perform well during first collegiate cross country meet

Bothell resident and Pacific University freshman Stephenie Spencer's collegiate cross country career could not have started any better than it did on Saturday as she won her first collegiate race to lead the the Boxers cross country teams at the Linfield Harrier Classic, held at Joe Dancer Park.

September 2, 2014 10:39 am

Bothell resident and Pacific University freshman Stephenie Spencer’s collegiate cross country career could not have started any better than it did on Saturday as she won her first collegiate race to lead the the Boxers cross country teams at the Linfield Harrier Classic, held at Joe Dancer Park.

Spencer completed the 6,000-meter course in a time of 24 minutes, 38.70 seconds, winning the race by 11 seconds over Clark College’s Erica Koranda.  Spencer’s time ranks her No. 23 on the Pacific all-time list for the women’s championship distance.
“It was great to have a freshman win in her first collegiate race,” said Pacific head coach Brent Ericksen, who was coaching his first meet for the Boxers.  “She exhibited nice patience and really ran down the leader at the end.”
Spencer led the Pacific women to a third place team finish in the four-team event, compiling 69 points.  The Pacific men, running without standout Tyler Shipley (Jr., Forest Grove, Ore.), placed third with a score 56 points.  The Boxers finished one point behind George Fox with 55 points.

Bothell resident and freshman Kyle Eisenbeis placed 24th in his collegiate opener in a time of 29:33.7.

Pacific next competes in three weeks.  They will take part in the University of Washington’s Sundodget Invitational on Sept. 20 at Seattle’s Lincoln Park.