By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

MONMOUTH, Ore. -- Four Willamette University cross country runners competed at the Ash Creek Invitational on Friday, Sept. 9. The Bearcats were represented by two women's runners and two men's runners. The meet was hosted by Western Oregon University.

For the Willamette women's team, Emily Evans (So., Anchorage, AK/South Anchorage HS) completed the 4.6-kilometer course in 19:07.1. Rosalba Cabrera (Fr., Whittier, CA/California HS), also from Willamette, earned a time of 19:10.8.

Matt Taylor (Fr., Arlington, WA/Arlington HS) and Robbie Melhorn (So., Bangkok, Thailand/International School Bangkok) ran for the Bearcat men's team. Taylor registered a time of 20:54.7 for the 6.3-kilometer course. Melhorn was timed at 21:41.0

The women's individual champion was Rebecca Bassett from Simon Fraser University (Canada) with a time of 16:52.8. She won by one second over Jessa Perkinson of Southern Oregon University, who placed second in 16:53.8. Julia Howley of Simon Fraser was third in 17:09.8.

David Ribich from Western Oregon won the men's event, as he reached the finish line in 18:53.8. Ray Schireman from SOU was second at 19:06.8 and unattached runner Michael Martin placed third at 19:10.3.

With just two competitors in each race, the Bearcats did not compete in the team scoring.

Simon Fraser won the women's team title with a score of 30. Western Oregon was second with a score of 57 and Southern Oregon was third at 59.

The men's team title went to Southern Oregon, which finished with a score of 27. Western Oregon took second place at 55 and Simon Fraser was third at 59.

Willamette will compete again on Friday, Sept. 16 at the Bill Delllinger Invitational, hosted by the University of Oregon. Meet time at the Springfield Country Club in Springfield, Oregon, is set for 5:15 p.m. (PDT).