McCorkle's Corner: The College Report

Catching up with local talent in the world of collegiate athletics

Rick McCorkle for Blast Zone Media

Cross Country

If there's one consistent with the University of Alaska-Fairbanks cross country team, it's the academic prowess of Koen Ross.

Ross, a Castle Rock native who graduated from Seton Catholic, is a three-time Academic All-Great Northwest Athletic Conference honoree. He carries a 3.51 grade point average while studying electrical engineering.

To qualify for academic all-conference, student-athletes must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.20, must be in at least their second season competing for their team and must have competed on the course during the 2023 campaign.

In the recent Bill Roe Cross Country Classic hosted by Western Washington University, Ross placed 77th in the men's 8-kilometer run in 26 minutes, 21 seconds.

Woodland's Haylee Kelley, a sophomore at Vancouver's Clark College, placed 69th in the women's race in the Emerald City Open held in Seattle. Clark completed the 6k run in 31:12.6. The Penguins placed fifth out of eight women's teams with 124 points.