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

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University runner Leo Castillo (Jr., Parkdale, OR/Hood River Valley HS) has been chosen Northwest Conference Men's Cross Country Student-Athlete of the Week for his efforts at the Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 2. Castillo led Willamette to a fifth place team finish in the men's Cardinal standings, which featured teams from all three NCAA Divisions.

Castillo placed 20th out of 239 runners in the Men's Cardinal 8K race. He registered a time of 24:24.31 and was the top NCAA Division III finisher. He helped the Bearcats take fifth place behind the University of Portland, Chico State University, University of Alaska-Anchorage and University of Idaho.

The Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational is one of the largest collegiate cross country meets on the West Coast each season. It honors the memory of former Willamette University head coach Charles Bowles, who put together a lengthy career of successful teams in cross country and track and field. He passed away in 2005.

This year, the event featured more than 1,140 runners. Competing teams were from Oregon, Washington, Idaho, California, Hawaii, Alaska, Tennessee, Nebraska, British Columbia, and Montana.

Up next for Willamette are cross country meets on Friday, Oct. 15 and Saturday, Oct. 16. The first meet will be the Mike Hodges Invitational at Clackamas Community College in Oregon City, Ore., which will begin at 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 15. The next day, WU will run at the Bill Dellinger Invitational at the University of Oregon in Eugene. Meet time at the Springfield Country Club is slated for 10 a.m. (PDT).