The Cougar women, ranked No. 7 in the NAIA, captured their third straight GSAC crown and their fourth in program history by edging No. 15 Concordia, 41-52. Additionally, for the second straight year, Cougars Brianna Carstensen and Christine Krause led the Azusa Pacific charge by finishing first and second with 5K times of 18:18 and 18:36, respectively. Junior Marissa Reeber joined Carstensen and Krause on the All-GSAC team after finishing sixth with an 18:56.
Rounding out the Cougar women were Lisette Saucedo, who finished 15th with a 19:32 while Kimberly Davids was 17th with a 19:37.
The Cougar men, ranked No. 4 in the NAIA, ran away from the field to win its second straight conference crown and its sixth in program history. The Cougars tallied a mere 32 points by placing all 5 of its top runners on the All-GSAC team. No. 13 Concordia was a distant second with 70 points.
Biola freshmen Brian Baker (25:25) and Brian Ball (25:48) were the top male finishers but it was Azusa Pacific’s tight pack of 5 runners that gave the Cougars the conference crown. Junior Tim Gachago shadowed the Biola runners, finishing third on the 8K course with a 25:51. Sophomore Danny Reid was fifth with a 25:56. Peter Franz, Tim Ramirez and Kevin Lindsey crossed the finish line in seventh, eighth and ninth places with times of 26:02, 26:05 and 26:07, respectively.
With the titles in hand, Azusa Pacific becomes the first school ever to sweep the men’s and women’s GSAC championships in back-to-back seasons.
