Though competing with mostly newcomers and holding out its top runners after a hard week of training at preseason camp, Western Washington University still won the men's title and placed second in the women's division at the Central Washington University Invitational Cross Country meet Friday, Sept. 7, in Ellensburg.

The Viking men, who were led by the second-place finish of freshman Zachary Bursell, won the five-team race with 18 points. Host Central was second with 58 and Pacific Lutheran third with 73.

Bursell was clocked in 20:28 over the six-kilometer course and Jonathan Quimby was eighth (20:51).

Two Viking freshmen finished one-two in the four-kilometer women's run. Taylor Guenther won in 15:33, five seconds faster than teammate Maddie Jalbert.

Central took top honors with 32 points in the four-team competition. WWU was second with 40 and PLU third with 54.