Bearcats Compete at Linfield Preview in Cross Country

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

WHEATLAND, ORE. -- A group of Willamette University cross country runners competed at the Linfield Preview at Willamette Mission State Park on Saturday, Sept. 25. Willamette finished in second place behind Oregon State University in the women's competition. The Bearcats were fourth in the men's team standings.

Phoebe Tollefson (So., Billings, MT/Billings HS) was Willamette's top finisher in sixth place. She achieved a time of 24:18.44 over the 6-kilometer course. Sarah McSweeney (Jr., Petaluma, CA/Casa Grande HS) of WU placed eighth overall with a time of 24:26:59. Stevie Gildehaus (So., Spokane, Valley, WA/University HS) was 13th at 24:56.20.

The winner of the women's race was Mimi Seeley of Linfield College, who completed the course in 23:23.91. Samantha Lee of Pacific University placed second at 23:32.50 and Sabrina Lopez, running unattached, was third at 23:40.33.

Oregon State won the women's team title with a score of 46. Willamette earned a score of 57 for second place. Linfield placed third at 65, Lane Community College was fourth at 82, Pacific finished fifth at 83 and Southwestern Oregon Community College was sixth at 159.

Sean Sharma (So., La Canada, CA/La Canada HS) of Willamette placed eighth in the men's race with a time of 27:06.75. Brian Gnerre (So., Torrance, CA/Torrance HS) was the second finisher for the Bearcats. He completed the 8-kilometer course in 27:15.67 for 11th place overall. Josh Echols (Fr., Olympia, WA/Capital HS) placed 17th at 28:12.79.

Casey Campbell, running for the University of Oregon Running Club, won the men's individual title. He was timed at 26:31.03. Scott Pinske from Linfield was the second runner to reach the finish line, as he logged a time of 26:36.63. Josh Gordon of the UO Running Club placed third at 26:38.85.

The University of Oregon Running Club won the men's team championship with a score of 29. Linfield was second in the team standings at 37, Pacific was third at 81, Willamette was fourth at 90, Lane CC was fifth at 118 and Southwestern Oregon CC was sixth at 156.

Willamette will host the 36th Annual Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 2 at Bush's Pasture Park. Each year, the Willamette Invitational is one of the largest cross country meets on the West Coast. The action is scheduled to get underway at 9:30 a.m. (PDT).