By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University runner Jay Chew (Fy., Elk Grove, CA/Laguna Creek HS) placed 46th out of 208 entries in the men's 8-kilometer race, and Bearcat runner Zoe Heino (Fy., Portland, OR/Mountainside HS) finished 56th out of 159 competitors in the women's 5-kilometer race, at the 47th Annual Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 1 at Bush's Pasture Park. The Bearcats placed 11th out of 17 teams in the men's race and 13th out of 17 teams in the women's race.
The event, held in honor of former Willamette head coach Charles Bowles who died in 2005, pays tribute to his commitment to cross country. This year the meet included runners from Oregon, Washington, California, and Hawaii. There were 16 four-year colleges and universities participating, plus seven community colleges and two club teams.
Chew registered a time of 25:52.0 in the men's 8K race. Other top Willamette finishers in the men's race were Milo Greenberg (Jr., Seattle, WA/The Northwest School) in 83rd place at 26:56.4, and William Hennum (So., Philomath, OR/Liberty HS, NV) in 93rd at 27:20.4. Joshua Evans (So., Lafayette, CA/Acalanes HS) was timed at 27:42.9, Gilbert Sanchez Torres (Fy., Citrus Heights, CA/Bella Vista HS) reached the finish line in 27:41.1, Roscoe McDonald (Sr., Seattle, WA/Ballard HS) earned a time of 27:54.1.
The men's individual champion was Teddy Buckley, running unattached, who topped the field in 24:18.0. He edged out Benjamin Collins, also unattached, who took second place in 24:18.4. Unattached runner Dalton Kaines was third in 24:29.9, while Nick Brichta from Cal Poly Humboldt (Calif.) placed fourth in 24:30.8. Jonas Gertsen ran unattached and claimed fifth place in 24:33.4. The University of Portland grabbed the next three spots, with Chris Anderson in sixth place at 24:34.3, Cohen Williams in seventh at 24:36.0, and Eliason Kabasenche in eighth at 24:38.8.
Heino completed the women's 5K race in 19:44.2. JJ Chatham (Fy., Jackson, Wyoming/Jackson Hole HS) of Willamette placed 66th with a time of 20:06.4, and teammate Aven Roberts (Fy., Missoula, MT/Hellgate HS) was 87th in 20:38.6. Also for WU, Leilani Luu took 92nd in 20:49.9, while Leila Fischer (Jr., Wenatchee, WA/Wenatchee HS) was 94th in 20:56.3. Grace Kosmicki (Fy., Pocatello, ID/Highland HS) was timed at 21:21.6 for the Bearcats.
Bara Styblova from Portland State University won the women's individual title with a time of 17:31.3. Hannah Hartwell from the College of the Redwoods (Calif.) was second at 17:35.9, and Caelan Miller from the University of Hawaii placed third at 18:02.3. Miller edged out Teresa Perez of Portland, who was fourth just one-half second later at 18:02.8. Sophia Morgan of Hawaii was fifth in 18:07.8. Aubrie Nex from Point Loma Nazarene University (Calif.) took sixth place in 18:16.9, with Caitlyn O'Neill of Seattle University (Wash.) in seventh at 18:17.7, and Lilianne Hargreaves of Seattle in eighth at 18:21.1.
The University of Portland won the men's team competition with a score of 29 (2-3-4-8-12). Eastern Oregon University finished second with a score of 49. Oregon Institute of Technology was third at 118, Cal Poly Humboldt placed fourth at 130, Seattle University was fifth at 141, and Northwest University (Wash.) claimed sixth place at 194. Willamette was 11th at 303. Northwest Conference rival Linfield University placed 12th at 348.
Seattle University topped the women's team standings with a score of 70 (7-8-11-16-28). Hawaii followed just eight points back in second with a score of 78. Oregon State University placed third at 94, with Portland in fourth at 109, and Portland State in fifth at 117. Point Loma Nazarene was sixth with 171 points and Seattle Pacific University (Wash.) was seventh at 185.
Willamette's cross country teams will compete at the Lewis-Clark State College Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 8 in Lewiston, Idaho. Meet time is slated for 10 a.m. (PDT).
