By Lance Fleming, Writer, and Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SPOKANE, Wash. – William Hennum (Jr., Henderson, NV/Liberty HS/SW Oregon CC) led the efforts of the Willamette University men's cross country team at the 2023 Northwest Conference Cross Country Championships on Saturday, Oct. 28, as he finished 33rd in a time of 26:37.5 over the 8-kilometer course. Jay Chew (So., Elk Grove, CA/Laguna Creek HS) followed in 39th place for the Bearcats with a time of 26:52.7. Hennum was 31st among scorers and Chew finished 36th.

The Northwest Conference Preseason Poll held up Saturday morning as George Fox University dominated the field to win its fifth straight men's cross country conference title at the Plantes Ferry Park and Sports Complex. George Fox – ranked #12 in the country entering the NWC Championships – saw each of its top five runners finish in the top 10 as the Bruins earned a score of 24 points (1-2-4-7-10). Lewis and Clark College finished second with 76 points, followed by Whitworth University with 92 points.

Pacific Lutheran University was fourth in the team standings at 102, with Linfield University in fifth at 131, Whitman College in sixth at 135, and the University of Puget Sound in seventh at 171. The Willamette Bearcats were eighth overall with a score of 207 points, and Pacific University placed ninth with 258 points.

Other scorers for Willamette in addition to Hennum and Chew were Julien Trobaugh (Fy., St. Louis, MO/University City HS), Adam Lewis (Fy., Glendale, CA/Eagle Rock HS), and Joshua Evans (Jr., Lafayette, CA/Acalanes HS). Trobaugh was 50th overall with a time of 27:31.4, while Lewis placed 52nd in 27:31.6, and Evans was 59th in 28:01.5. Sage Soto (Fy., Kapolei, HI/Kapolei HS) registered a time of 28:05.3 for the Bearcats. A total of 78 runners competed in the men's 8-kilometer race.

George Fox standout Peter Weiss, the pre-meet favorite, won the men's individual conference championship, covering the course in 24:42.5. He edged out teammate Alex Mills by a little less than three seconds, with Mills taking second in  24:45.2. Evan Markelz from Lewis and Clark was third in the race with a time of 24:46.6. Adam Peterson from GFU was fourth in 24:53.1 and Ben Kerr from the University of Puget Sound was fifth at 25:05.9.

Willamette will compete at the NCAA West Regional on Saturday, Nov. 11 in Riverside, California. Action is scheduled to start at 8 a.m. PDT. The University of La Verne will be hosting the meet.