By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

McMINNVILLE, Ore. -- Led by a win in the men's 6-kilometer race by first-year runner Jay Chew (Fy., Elk Grove, CA/Laguna Creek HS) the Willamette men's and women's cross country teams defeated Linfield University to win the Linfield Harrier Classic on Friday, Sept. 2 at Joe Dancer Park. Chew prevailed in the men's race with a time of 20:19.5, as he took first place by 20.5 seconds.

The Bearcats won the men's competition with a score of 25, while Linfield finished with a score of 30. In the women's 4-kilometer race, Willamette was victorious with a score of 24 and Linfield followed with a score of 31. Western Oregon University competed without a full team in either race. Several members of the Willamette women's triathlon team ran in the women's race. On the results file, Willamette's triathletes, who officially competed in the women's race for Willamette Triathlon, are listed as unattached.

Willamette's cross country coaches said they were pleased with the results at the season-opening meet. They were especially thrilled with how well the first-year runners competed. They also were impressed with how well the upperclassmen helped prepare the overall men's and women's teams for the two races.

In the men's event, Chew was followed by Calvin Cahill from Linfield, who took second place in 20:40.5. Logan Parker of Western Oregon was third in 20:50.0, while Gilbert Sanchez Torres (Fy., Citrus Heights, CA/Bella Vista HS) of Willamette was fourth at 20:5.7.

Other runners for the Bearcats in the men's race were Joshua Evans (So., Lafayette, CA/Acalanes HS), Milo Greenberg (Jr., Seattle, WA/The Northwest School), Will Hennum (So., Philomath, OR/Liberty HS, Nev./SW Oregon CC), Roscoe McDonald (Sr., Seattle, WA/Ballard HS), and Ian Curtis (Sr., Eugene, OR/South Eugene HS).

Evans placed 10th with a time of 21:48.1 and Greenberg was 11th at 21:55.1. Hennum followed in 12th place at 21:59.2. McDonald was timed at 22:12.5 and Curtis registered a time of 23:24.3.

WU's top finisher in the women's race was Zoe Heino (Fy., Portland, OR/Mountainside HS). She took fifth place in 16:09.0.

The women's race was won by Riley Smith from Western Oregon, who attained a time of 15:10.5 to edge out teammate Holly Hutton, who placed second in 15:13.9. Ali Clifton of WOU was third in 15:49.4 and Jennifer Torres-Bermudez was fourth with a time of 16:02.4

Jacie Chatham (Fy., Jackson, WY/Jackson Hole HS) of Willamette was seventh at 16:35.5, while Anna Bikle (Fy., Woodside, CA/Half Moon Bay HS) from WU was eight in 16:43.6. Aven Roberts (Fy., Missoula, MT/Hellgate HS) placed 11th for the Bearcats in 16:58.1 and Grace Kosmicki (Fy., Pocatello, ID/Highland HS) was 12th at 17:04.4.

Also running for the WU women's team were Leila Fischer (Jr., Wenatchee, WA/Wenatchee HS), Melissa Duncan (Jr., Canyon Country, CA/Canyon HS), and Leilani Luu (Fy., Colorado Springs, CO/Pine Creek HS). Fischer was timed at 17:30.1, while Duncan earned a time of 17:56.2, and Luu finished in 18:16.9.

Willamette will compete at the Humboldt Invitational in Arcata, California, on Saturday, Sept. 17. The meet is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. (PDT).