October 27, 2006
Rocklin, CA William Jessup University hosted the 2006 California Pacific Conference, Region II, NAIA championships.
Last year's NAIA region II champion William Ngetich, of Holy Names University, slipped away from the pack to take the top spot in a time of 27:23; however, William Jessup's Joe Kaufman secured a solid 2nd place finish in a time of 28:09 on WJU's tough 5-mile course to lead the Warriors to a decisive victory. Teammates joining Kaufman on the Cal-Pac 1st Team All-Conference award for 2006 All-Conference were Tom Harrer (4th place), Parker Daniells (6th) and Kyle Stair (7th), while Darem Morency (10th place) was honored for a 2nd Team.
William Jessup women's team took 3rd overall in the meet with a score of 68 points in a closely-fought, 3-way battle with CSU-East Bay (42) and Menlo College (54); However, because of strong team finishes in earlier competitions, the Warriors won the Cal-Pac Season Championship title.
Marie Vanzandt, of CSU-East Bay, held a strong, unrelenting pace to win with a time of 19:47, narrowly missing the course record on WJU's 5k course. On Vanzandt's heels was the Jessup threesome: Amanda Gillming finished 2nd on the hilly 5k course to set a personal best time of 20:23, while Sara Kelly and Carly Verboom finished 3rd and 4th in times of 20:38 and 20:55, respectively. Completing WJU's top five runners were Jillian Mourier and Ashlee Ragsdale, who finished in 40th and 41st places). Gillming, Kelly, and Verboom were also awarded Cal-Pac 1st Team All-Conference honors for 2006.
"Coach Priddin and I are very pleased with our runners' performances this year, and we feel privileged to work with a fine group of athletes who are committed to glorify Christ not only in their races, but also in their endeavors off the track," said WJU Head Coach Nick Vogt, who was selected 2006 Cal-Pac Men's Coach of the Year by his peers.
