Schall & Velasquez Prepare For Nationals

Breyette Schall – Fr, Minot, ND and Brandon Velasquez – So, Chula Vista, CA will be leaving Wed Nov 18 th at 1:45pm for Vancouver, Washington for the NAIA National Cross Country Championships on Sat. Nov 21 st .  Both runners will be making their first appearances at nationals. 

Schall qualified after finishing fifth in the women's race at the DAC championships Nov 6 th .  Schall was the number one runner for the Beavers in every race this year.  It will be the 15 th national championship that at least one female has represented the Beavers.  Schall will be the 17 th different individual out of 30 participants for the Beavers dating back to 1985 when Kathy Donnelly made the first trip for the women. 

Velasquez earned his trip by finishing seventh at the DAC championships.  He too ran as the number one Beaver all season.  Velasquez  will be the 38 th different individual and 65 th participant for the Beavers dating back to 1973 when the team of Mike Jore, Joe Johnston, Tim Braxmeier, Rich Gaffrey, Gerald Ziemann, Mark Morrison and Gary Myhre qualified for the race in Salina, KS.  Since 1973 the Beavers men have been represented at nationals 21 times.   

The championship will be held on the west coast for the first time in its existence.  The men's 8000-meter race will go at 12:30pm (central) making four 2000-meter loops around Fort Vancouver National Historic Site in Vancouver, Washington.  The women's 5000-meter race will start at 1:45pm (central) and will make a short loop followed by two 2000-meter loops.  Previous hosts for the national championships have been Kenosha, WI; Louisville, KY; Kenosha and Salina, KS. 

The Beavers will be conducting their last local workout on Tuesday, Nov. 17 th at 3:30pm.  They meet at the Dome and run to the Optimist Soccer Complex on the North Hill (arriving approximately 3:50pm) for anyone interested in interviews or pictures.