CALDWELL, Idaho – Paced by five Top-10 finishers, second-ranked Southern Oregon University rolled to their sixth consecutive Cascade Conference title, handling defeating a field of nine at Brothers Park.
Final Results
Led by individual champion, Eric Avila, the Raiders amassed a team score of 31 points, ahead of second-place Eastern Oregon (54), and third-place College of Idaho (90).
Concordia University’s Eric Alldritt was the early pace-setter holding the lead through the majority of the first two 2,000-meter loops, but Avila made his move at the midway point of the race earning the victory with a time of 25:31.10.
Eastern Oregon’s Isaac Updike was solid over the final third of the race, finishing second with a time of 25:47.25, with Alldritt holding on for third (25:49.47).
SOU’s pack was the story, as the Raiders had a mere 47 seconds between Avila and fifth-place runner Cary Dunagan, and a 51-second split between their No. 1-7 competitors.
For his efforts, Avila was named CCC Runner of the Year, with Raiders head coach, Grier Gatlin, earning Coach of the Year accolades.
With the victory, SOU earns the CCC’s automatic berth to the NAIA National Championships, Nov. 23, at Rim Rock Farm in Lawrence, Kan.
2013 CCC Championships Results – Southern Oregon 31, Eastern Oregon 54, College of Idaho 90, Oregon Tech 101, Northwest Christian 123, Concordia 138, Corban 194, Northwest 231, Warner Pacific 286
2013 All-CCC Team (Top-12 Finishers) – Eric Avila (SOU), Isaac Updike (EOU), Eric Alldritt (CU), Kody Shriver (EOU), Eric Ghelfi (SOU), Paul Adams (OIT), Jared Hixon (SOU), Hector Aleman (SOU), Scott Minor (OIT), Cary Dunagan (SOU), Hans Roelle (EOU), Matt Battaglia (SOU)
CCC Runner of the Year – Eric Avila (SOU)
CCC Coach of the Year – Grier Gatlin (SOU)