Willamette Runners Compete at Lewis & Clark Invitational

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

ESTACADA, Ore. -- Four Willamette University cross country runners competed at the Lewis & Clark Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 14 at McIver State Park. The Bearcats did not enter a complete men's team or a complete women's team.

Maggie Chapin (So., Buffalo, WY/Buffalo HS) placed 60th out of 128 runners in the women's 6-kilometer race with a time of 24:23.1. Risa Shutz (Fr., Redmond, WA/Redmond HS) also participated in the women's race for Willamette and earned a time of 25:34.9.

In the men's race, Robbie Melhorn (Jr., Bangkok, Thailand/International School Bangkok) finished 52nd out of 116 runners. His time on the 8-kilometer course was 27:33.7. Jack Kobylka (Sr., Napa, CA/Vintage HS) of Willamette took 64th place in 27:43.7

Carleton College (Minn.) won the women's team title with a score of 38 (3-4-6-10-15). Whitworth University placed second at 64 and Linfield College was third at 106. The men's team championship went to Southern Oregon University with a score of 30 (3-4-5-8-10). Carleton grabbed second place at 38, while Lewis & Clark College finished third at 115, edging out Pacific Lutheran University, which placed fourth at 117.

The Bearcats will compete at the Northwest Conference Championships on Saturday, Oct. 28 at Veterans Memorial Golf Course in Walla Walla, Washington. The meet is scheduled to get underway at 10 a.m. (PDT).