By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- Anastasiia Lemesh (So., Chernihiv, Ukraine) of Willamette University registered a time of 24:06.2 and placed fifty-fifth overall in the women's 6-kilometer race at the 2023 NCAA Division III West Regional at the Riverside Cross Country Course. Willamette placed 14th out of 23 colleges and universities in the team standings.

A total of 165 runners competed in the women's race. Natalie Bitetti of Claremont-Mudd-Scripps won the individual title with a winning time of 21:32.8. Bitetti led a 1-2-3 finished for the Athenas, as Elle Marsyla placed second in 21:53.5 and Riley Capuano was third at 21:56.4. Kendall Accette of Colorado College placed fourth in 22:07.3. Kayla Aalpoel from George Fox University finished fifth at 22:10.1.

Lemesh led Willamette's group of seven runners. Zoe Heino (So., Portland, OR/Mountainside HS) placed 73rd overall in 24:32.6. Anna Bikle (So., Woodside, CA/Half Moon Bay HS) was 92nd in 25:00.7. Morgan Shaw recorded a time of 25:17.2 for the Bearcats, while Aven Roberts (Fy., Missoula, MT/Hellgate HS) earned a time of 25:42.1, and Grace Kosmicki (So., Pocatello, ID/Highland HS) completed the course in 26:22.5. Leila Fischer (Jr., Wenatchee, WA/Wenatchee HS) was timed at 26:37.3.

The team standings were led by Claremont-Mudd Scripps with a score of 32 (1-2-3-13-15). George Fox was second at 74, while Colorado College placed third at 108. The University of California, Santa Cruz was fourth at 141 and Chapman University gained fifth place at 113. Willamette registered a score of 422 in 14th place.