Powell helps Orediggers sweep top three and take six of first nine spots in men’s 8-kilometer competition, with women’s lineup placing five scorers in top 15 to secure impressive team victories; Alaska Fairbanks standout Bailey wins 6-kilometer race in preview of December championship event

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

One week after Adams State demonstrated its depth in California at the UC Riverside Highlander Invitational, Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference rival Colorado School of Mines showcased its strength racing at sea level Saturday at the NCAA Division 2 Pre-Nationals at Chambers Creek Regional Park in University Place, Wash.

Dillon Powell, Loic Scomparin and Duncan Fuehne swept the top three spots in the men’s 8-kilometer race and the Orediggers placed six athletes in the top nine to prevail by a 19-84 margin against Chico State, with Western Colorado taking third at 91 points and Western Washington finishing fourth with 142 points.

Colorado School of Mines also had five scorers in the top 15, contributing to seven athletes finishing in the top 25 in the women’s 6-kilometer race to secure a 37-88 victory against RMAC rival Western Colorado.

Biola was third with 151 points and Chico State finished fourth with 194 points.

Naomi Bailey of Alaska Fairbanks triumphed in the women’s competition in 20 minutes, 46.1 seconds and teammate Kendall Kramer secured sixth in 21:03.4. Both were former Alaska Division 1 state champions at West Valley High.

Katie Doucette of Western Colorado placed second in 20:55.1, followed by Colorado School of Mines standouts Zoe Baker (20:56) and Clare Peters (20:59.6) taking third and fourth.

Molly Maksin (21:07.9) and Holly Moser (21:10.2) were seventh and eighth for the Orediggers, who also had Lanie Szuch (21:34.8) and Grace Strongman (21:35.6) placing 15th and 16th, respectively.

Sonoma State freshman Gianna Bomarito was fifth in 20:59.8, with Western Colorado’s Allison Beasley (21:16.6) grabbing ninth and Colorado Mesa’s Kira McGill (21:22.4) rounding out the top 10.

Powell pulled away from the pack to capture the 8-kilometer win in 23:19.8, with Scomparin clocking 23:36.0 and Fuehne running 23:39.2.

Luke Julian was fifth in 23:49.3, with Steven Goldy (24:01.3) earning eighth and Chris Cathcart (24:03.2) finishing ninth for the Orediggers, who also had freshman Daniel Appleford in 19th in 24:21.0.

Alaska Anchorage’s Cole Nash placed fourth in 23:47.4, Western Colorado’s Simon Kelati achieved sixth in 23:55.5, with Simon Fraser’s Charlie Dannatt securing seventh in 24:00.7.

Chico State teammates Rory Abberton (24:04.1) and Jack Emanuel (24:06.1) were 10th and 11th overall, contributing to the Wildcats’ runner-up team performance.

Aaron Ahl, an All-American at Simon Fraser competing unattached, won the men’s open 8-kilometer race in 24:45.1.

Chico State’s Jacqueline Cascione won the women’s open 6-kilometer race in 22:43.7.

The NCAA Division 2 Championships are scheduled for Dec. 2 in University Place, Wash.