<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=12bqmy_0vkLrVBV00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=12bqmy_0vkLrVBV00" width="1920" height="1080" ><figcaption>WWU hosts the Bill Roe Classic Saturday at Hovander Park in Ferndale</figcaption></figure>BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University cross country program hosts the Bill Roe Classic this Saturday at Hovander Park in Ferndale.This will be the 50th edition of the WWU XC Classic and fourth since being renamed in honor of the late Bill Roe, a longtime WWU assistant coach and former president of USA Track and Field Bill Roe, who passed away unexpectedly in 2020.The 2024 cross country meet features a strong field with 11 programs set to compete with the men's 8K beginning at 10 am and the women's 6K following at 11 am.The event returns to Hovander Homestead Park in Ferndale, where it debuted in 2022, was held at Sudden Valley Golf Course in 2021 and Lake Padden last season.The women's race features five of the 10 West Region ranked programs, including No. 1 WWU facing off against No. 2 Chico State. The men's race is highlighted by the No. 1 Wildcats going up against the No. 2 Vikings.This marks the Vikings second regular-season meet after debuting September 14 at the Gator Cross in Lakewood, with WWU women and men placing 2nd behind the University of Portland.Western enters the meet with both programs ranked nationally with the men at No. 10 and the women at No. 11. Both teams were selected No. 1 in the GNAC Preseason Coaches Poll after winning back-to-back conference championships in 2022 and 2023.Following the Bill Roe Classic, the Vikings are scheduled to race in a pair of meets on Saturday, October 12. Western will send seven members on each the men's and women's team to the Lewis Crossover in Romeoville, Illinois, with the remainder competing at the Emerald City Classic at Lower Woodland Park.The GNAC Championships will be held October 26 at Sudden Valley Golf Course in Bellingham and the West Regional Championships are set for November 9 in Billings, Montana.The complete 2024 WWU Cross Country schedule can be viewed online at wwuvikings.com/24_XC.Both the WWU men's and women's cross country programs hold regional and national rankings in the U.S. Track &amp; Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) polls:· WWU Women: No. 1 in West Region, No. 11 in NCAA II· WWU Men: No. 2 in West Region, No. 10 in NCAA IIHere are some of the details on the Bill Roe Cross Country Classic. The cross country meet will be held Saturday, September 28 beginning at 10 am on the grounds of Hovander Homestead Park in Ferndale.· What: Bill Roe WWU Classic· When: Saturday, September 28, 2024· Where: Hovander Homestead Park in Ferndale· Directions: Google map for Hovander Park· Time: Men's 8K (10 am start), Women's 6K (11 am start)· Results: Live Results will be available at wwuvikings.com/XC_Live· Parking: Free parking will be available at Homestead Park, but plan ahead with limited spots· Cost: Free of charge to come out and support collegiate cross country· Course Map: Here is a look at the Course Map for the Bill Roe Classic· History: Get updated on the full history of the previous 49 WWU XC ClassicsThe Vikings host the 50th Annual WWU Classic, renamed the WWU Bill Roe Classic in 2021, on Saturday at Hovander Park in Ferndale. The meet is named in honor of Bill Roe, a fixture in the Western Washington University track &amp; field and cross country program for 35 years, from 1985-2020, as well as being nationally and internationally known for his involvement in the administration of those sports. Roe passed away unexpectedly in February 2020. He was a long-time USA Track &amp; Field official and leader. He served as President of the USATF for two terms from 2000 to 2008. The founder in 1972 of Seattle's Club Northwest and in 1973 of the Pacific Northwest Association of USATF, Roe's resume includes work in nearly all capacities of the sport: as a coach, meet director, clinician, official, administrator, and executive. He also was founder of Northwest Runner magazine.Here is a look at the teams scheduled to participate in the 2024 Bill Roe Classic. A number of individual competitors are also scheduled to race. Complete results from the event will be available shortly after the completion of all racing:Collegiate:· Western Washington (host)· Alaska Anchorage· Alaska Fairbanks· Chico State· Clark College· Edmonds College· Northwest University· Saint Martin's· Seattle Pacific· Simon Fraser· Trinity WesternClub:· Lake Sammamish Run Club · Club Northwest· Premature Acceleration (WWU Alumni)Saturday will mark Senior Day for five Vikings that will be graduating after the fall quarter. These five student-athletes have competed in cross country and track &amp; field for the Vikings over the last few years and we are excited to celebrate their final home meet at a Viking:· Meara Nystrom· Sophie Wright· Jeret Gillingham· Jalen Javurek· George KaramitsosWWU will take next week off and return to action October 12 with two events scheduled. The top group of Vikings will compete at the Lewis Crossover in Romeoville, Illinois and the remainder of the team will race at the Emerald City Open at Lower Woodland Park in Seattle.The Bill Roe Classic features five of the top 10 regionally-ranked programs in the West according to the latest USTFCCCA poll released this week. The women's meet showcases No. 1 WWU, No. 2 Chico State, No. 4 Alaska Fairbanks, No. 9 Seattle Pacific and No. 10 Simon Fraser. The men's 8K will match up the top two teams in the regional rankings with No. 1 Chico State and No. 2 Western Washington.The WWU women's team not only won its second consecutive team title at the GNAC Championships last season, but also claimed the team title at the NCAA II West Regional Championships in Monmouth, Oregon. The regional title was the first in NCAA program history and ninth by a GNAC program. The Western women went on to place 14th at nationals for the seventh top-15 finish during the NCAA era.The 2024 WWU cross country schedule features four regular-season meets, followed by the GNAC Championships, NCAA II West Regional and the NCAA II Championships. Start times for all meets will be posted online at WWUVikings.com/XC when they are finalized.DateMeetLocationSept. 14 (Sat.)Green River Gator InvitationalLakewood, WA (Fort Steilacoom Park)Sept. 28. (Sat.)Bill Roe ClassicFerndale, WA (Hovander Park)Oct. 12 (Sat.)Emerald City OpenSeattle, WA (Lower Woodland Park)Oct. 12 (Sat.)Lewis CrossoverRomeville, IL (Lewis XC Course)Oct. 26 (Sat.)GNAC ChampionshipsBellingham, WA (Sudden Valley Golf Course)Nov. 9 (Sat.)NCAA II West Regional ChampionshipsBillings, MT (Amend Park)Nov. 23 (Sat.)NCAA II National ChampionshipsSacramento, CA (Arcade Creek XC Course)Here is a look at the 2024 GNAC Cross Country Preseason Polls with both the WWU women's and men's programs predicted to defend the conference title:Points awarded on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basisFOLLOW THE VIKSFans can follow WWU Cross Country online at WWUVikings.com/XC, and via social media on Twitter (@WWUTFXC), Instagram (@WWUTFXC) and Facebook (@WWUTFXC).</div></body>

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Vikings Host Bill Roe Classic Saturday at Hovander Park

BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University cross country program hosts the Bill Roe Classic this Saturday at Hovander Park in Ferndale. This will be the 50th edition of the WWU XC Classic and fourth since being renamed in honor of the late Bill Roe, a longtime WWU assistant coach and former president of USA Track and Field Bill Roe, who passed away unexpectedly in 2020.