Willamette Cross Country Runners to Compete in Two States on Saturday

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

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University men's and women's cross country teams will compete in two states and two time zones on Saturday, Oct. 18 when the Bearcats participate in meets hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and Lewis & Clark College.

UW-Oshkosh is hosting the AAE Invitational in Winneconne, Wis., while L&C is hosting the Lewis & Clark Invitational in Estacada, Ore.

The first group of Bearcats will get underway in the AAE Invitational at 10:30 a.m. (CDT)/8:30 a.m. (PDT) at the Lake Breeze Golf Club. The meet, previously known as the Brooks Invitational, will feature approximately 500 runners in each race. Action will start with the men's 8-kilometer race, followed by the women's 6-kilometer race at 11:15 a.m. (CDT).

A total of 47 men's teams and 49 women's teams will run at the AAE event. Twenty-three of the teams are nationally ranked in NCAA Division II or NCAA Division III. The Willamette women's team is ranked #9 in NCAA Division III, while the Bearcat men's team is ranked #4 in the West Region.

The second group of Willamette runners will begin competing at the Lewis & Clark Invitational at 11 a.m. (PDT). Both races during the L&C meet will be held at McIver Park.

Willamette last competed on Oct. 4 at the 40th Annual Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational, held at Bush's Pasture Park in Salem, Ore.

WU's top five finishers in the Women's Cardinal 5-kilometer race at the Bowles Invite were Olivia Mancl (So., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS), Taylor Ostrander (Jr., Kenai, AK/Kenai Central HS), Michaela Freeby (Sr., Milwaukie, OR/Rex Putnam HS), Hannah Bressler (Jr., Oak Harbor, WA/Oak Harbor HS) and Alyssa Reese (Fr., Louisville, CO/Monarch HS).

The top runners for Willamette in the Men's Cardinal 8-kilometer race during he Bowles Invite were Yonny Castillo (Jr., Parkdale, OR/Hood River Valley HS), Daniel Swanson (Sr., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS), Jacob Shafi (Jr., Pleasanton, CA/Amador Valley HS), Forrest Smith (Fr., Crested Butte, CO/Crested Butte HS) and Dane Tippett (Fr., Mountain View, CA/Los Altos HS).

Willamette's women placed second in the team standings at the Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational. The Bearcat men's team achieved a third place finish.

After running on Saturday in Wisconsin and Oregon, the Bearcat runners will not compete until they host the Northwest Conference Championships on Saturday, Nov. 1 at Bush's Pasture Park. The men's 8-kilometer race will start at 10 a.m. (PDT), with the women's 6-kilometer race to follow at 11 a.m.