By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University runner Olivia Mancl (Sr., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS) has been named the Northwest Conference Women's Cross Country Student-Athlete of the Week for her efforts at the 42nd Annual Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 1.

Mancl placed third out of 189 runners in the Women's Cardinal 5-kilometer race, while setting a personal record of 17:39.7. Her previous best was 17:47.9 at last year's Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational. The Women's Cardinal race featured NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II and NCAA Division III teams.

With Mancl leading the way, Willamette placed sixth in the team standings in the Women's Cardinal 5K race. The Bearcats competed against 19 other teams in the race, including three from NCAA Division I and seven from NCAA Division II. Willamette finished in front of six NCAA Division II teams.

This weekend's time kept Mancl in seventh place on Willamette's all-time cross country list at the 5-kilometer distance.

The Bearcats will return to action at two meets on Saturday, Oct. 15. A select group of Willamette runners will compete in the UW-Oshkosh Invitational at the Lake Breeze Golf Course in Winneconne, Wisconsin. A second group of Bearcats will run at the Lewis & Clark Invitational at McIver Park in Estacada, Oregon.