By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- The Willamette University men's and women's cross country teams will host the 47th Annual Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational on Saurday, Oct. 1 at Bush's Pasture Park. Former Willamette head coach Charles Bowles died in 2005, but his commitment to cross country is honored each season when the Bearcats host the Charles Bowles event. Willamette is proud to continue the tradition.
This year's Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational features runners from Oregon, Washington, California, and Hawaii. There are 16 four-year colleges and universities participating, plus seven community colleges and one club team. Entries include 240 men's runners and 180 women's runners.
Willamette won the men's title at the Linfield Harrier Classic on Sept. 2. The Bearcats were led by Jay Chew (Fy., Elk Grove, CA/Laguna Creek HS), who took first place during the men's 6-kilometer race. Zoe Heino (Fy., Portland, OR/Mountainside HS) placed fifth in the women's 4-kilometer race. Later, Heino earned ninth place in the women's 6-kilomer race at the Jim Hunt Invitational hosted by Cal Poly Humboldt, while Chew grabbed 12th place in the men's 8-kilometer race.
The Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational will begin with the men's 8-kilometer race at 9:30 a.m. (PDT). The women's 5-kilometer race is scheduled to begin at 10:20 a.m. This year's format has all men's teams competing in one race and all women's teams competing in one race.
Most of the colleges and universities will compete in both races. The exceptions are the University of Hawaii, Oregon State University, and Point Loma Nazarene University (Calif.), which are entered only in women's race.
Admission to the Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational is free. Also, spectators are asked to be cautious near the course and to avoid interfering with participants. Although most of the course will take runners through Bush's Pasture Park, both of the races will finish inside McCulloch Stadium.
47th Annual Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational
Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022
Bush's Pasture Park, Salem, Ore.
Schedule of Events
9:30 a.m. - Men's 8K Race
All colleges and universities
10:20 a.m. - Women's 5K Race
All colleges and universities
Participating Teams
(Men and Women unless otherwise indicated)
NCAA Division I
University of Hawaii - women
Oregon State University - women
University of Portland
Portland State University
Seattle University (Wash.)
NCAA Division II
Cal Poly Humboldt (Calif.)
Point Loma Nazarene University (Calif.) - women
Seattle Pacific University (Calif.)
NCAA Division III
Linfield College
Willamette University
NAIA
Bushnell University (Ore.)
Corban University (Ore.)
Eastern Oregon University
Multnomah University (Ore.)
Northwest University (Wash.)
Oregon Tech (Ore.)
Junior Colleges
Clark College (Wash.)
Lane Community College (Ore.)
College of the Redwoods (Calif.)
Southwestern Oregon Community College
Spokane Community College (Wash.)
Treasure Valley Community College (Ore.)
Umpqua Community College (Ore.)
Club
University of Oregon Running Club