By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Zoe Heino (So., Portland, OR/Mountainside HS) from Willamette University finished 23rd in the women's 6-kilometer race at the George Oja Invitational, hosted by Linfield University at Oak Knoll Golf Course on Saturday, Oct. 14. She crossed the finish line at the same time as Lily Jones of Whitworth University, but Jones placed 22nd. Both runners were timed at 22:16.7 as they tied for the second-fastest time among NCAA Division III finishers.

Heino led the way as Willamette earned sixth place out of 18 teams in the overall standings with a score of 211, as the Bearcats edged out NWC rivals Whitman College and Whitworth. Whitman placed seventh at 212 and Whitworth was eighth at 217.

The women's team champion was Seattle University with a score of 46 (1-6-8-13-18). Seattle won the title by a single point, as the University of Portland grabbed second place at 47 (4-5-10-22-17). Southern Idaho University was third at 68, with Pacific University in fourth at 131, and San Diego Mesa College claimed fifth place at 153.

Hannah Eagon, running unattached, won the women's individual title in 20:31.6. She won by about 25 seconds over Azalea Groleau of Seattle University, who was second in 20:56.3. Alauna Carstens of Evergreen State College (Wash.) placed third in 21:07.8. Elizabeth Phillips of Southern Idaho took fourth in 21:08.6 and Sydnee Boothby from Clark College was fifth at 21:11.1.

For the Bearcats, Heino was followed by Anastasiia Lemesh (So., Chernihiv, Ukraine/Pierce College) in 38th place at 22:56.9. Morgan Shaw (Fy., Redmond, OR/Ridgeview HS) placed 57th in 23:29.1 and Anna Bikle (So., Woodside, CA/Half Moon Bay HS) was 69th in 23:42.6. Overall, 187 runners competed in the women's race.

Willamette will compete at the Northwest Conference Cross Country Championships on Saturday, Oct. 28 at Platnes Ferry Park in Spokane, Washington. The meet will start at 10 a.m. PDT.