By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

EUGENE, ORE. -- Stevie Gildehaus (Jr., Spokane Valley, WA/University HS) finished third and three other Willamette runners finished in the top 10, as the Bearcats took first place in the Northwest Cross Country Classic at Lane Community College on Saturday, Sept. 22.

Willamette tied the University of Oregon Running Club for top team honors with a score of 36 points. The Bearcats won the tie-breaker, which was the head-to-head score for each team's top five runners.

The first two finishers for the U of O Running Club each completed the race ahead of Willamette's top two finishers. The next three Bearcats, however, finished in front of the corresponding finishers for the U of O Running Club. Willamette claimed the tie-breaker, 3-2.

Renee Knapp of UORC won the individual title over the women's 5-kilometer course with a time of 19:00. Jaclyn Rushing, also from UORC, placed second in 19:27. Gildehaus was next at 19:33, as she edged out Rachel Schreiber from Pacific University, who took fourth at 19:35.

In addition to Gildehaus, Willamette's other top 10 finishers were Juliet Farnan (Fr., Lafayette, CA/Campolindo HS) in sixth place, Amanda Tamanaha (Sr., Honolulu, HI/Saint Andrews Priory School) in seventh place and Taylor Ostrander (Soldotna, AK/Kenai Central HS) in ninth place. Farnan's time was 19:55, while Tamanaha completed the race in 20:06 and Ostrander reached the finish line in 20:16.

Kellen Friedrich (Fr., Salem, OR/South Salem HS) of Willamette was 12th in 20:26. Erynn Rebol (Jr., Cottonwood, CA/Red Bluff Union HS) took 15th place for the Bearcats in 20:44.

Willamette entered three runners in the men's 4-mile race. Jacob Shafi (Fr., Pleasanton, CA/Amador Valley HS) was the top finisher for Bearcats in 19th place with a time of 21:51.

The individual men's champion was Casey Campbell with the University of Oregon Running Club, who reached the finish line in 20:20. Robert McLauchlan, also from UORC, was second in 20:37. Tyler Shipley from Pacific earned third place with a time of 21:14. UORC claimed the men's team title with a score of 18 (1-2-4-5-6).

Willamette will host the 38th Annual Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 29. The event will be held at Bush's Pasture Park in Salem, Ore., with the action getting underway at 9:30 a.m. (PDT).

The Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational is one of the largest collegiate cross country meets on the West Coast each season.