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

OREGON CITY, ORE. -- Three athletes on the Willamette University men's cross country team competed in an 8-kilometer race at the Mike Hodges Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 12. The meet was hosted by Clackamas Community College.

Michael Underwood (So., Palo Alto, CA/Henry M. Gunn HS) from Willamette finished 15th in the race. He achieved a time of 27::35.23.

Also for Willamette, Hunter Matthies (So., Moran, WY/Jackson Hole HS) placed 19th in 27:49.72 and Shelby Decker (So., Las Vegas, NV/Arbor View HS) took 28th in 28:39.55. The Bearcats did not field a complete team. Willamette's did not compete in the women's 4,340-meter run.

Individual champions were Pake Benthin from Clackamas CC in the men's 8K race and Jessica Mildes from Spokane Community College in the women's 5K race. Benthin earned a time of 26:19.54. Mildes completed the course in 16:53.34. Spokane CC won the women's team title. Clackamas CC won the men's team championship.

The Willamette men's and women's cross country teams will compete at the Brooks Invitational in Winneconne, Wis., on Saturday, Oct. 19. Hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, the large meet will be held at the Lake Breeze Golf Club starting at 11:15 a.m. (CST)/9:15 a.m. (PDT).

A total of about 1,000 runners -- roughly 500 in each race -- competed at the Brooks Invitational last year, including many of the top teams in NCAA Division III. Willamette placed eighth in the women's team standings and finished 11th in the men's team standings.