SALEM, Ore. — Eastern Oregon University's cross country teams competed in a stacked field at the 49th Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational on Saturday. The No. 10-ranked men's team finished fourth overall in a competitive 8,000-meter race, while the women placed 11th in the 5,000-meter event.
Both events featured a crowded field of NAIA, NCAA, and NJCAA programs, with 21 teams participating in the women's race and 25 in the men's race.
MEN'S 8K
The Mountaineer men secured fourth place with 111 points, led by Justin Ash's 10th-place finish and a personal record of 24:21.0, tying Jason Werst for seventh in the program's all-time rankings. Cristian Mendoza followed closely, placing 16th with a time of 24:34.4. Mendoza's finish moves him up in the record books from 22nd to 13th, tying last year's teammate Hunter Nichols. George Showers (29th, 25:02.4) and Thomas Ogden (30th, 25:02.6) were the next Mounties to cross the line, with Jonathan Wind rounding out the top-five scorers in 34th place with a time of 25:05.8.
WOMEN'S 5K
The Eastern Oregon women's team finished 11th in the 5K race, accumulating a total of 314 points. Kaleah Hines had the strongest showing for the Mountaineers, placing 46th with a time of 18:46.1. Mattie Woodbury followed, finishing 78th in 19:20.2. Sadie McCoy (65th, 19:06.9), Riley Morris (97th, 19:31.0), and Kiah Carlson (105th, 19:43.3) also contributed to the team's scoring.
The Mountaineers will look to build upon Saturday's performances when they next compete at the Linfield George Oja Invitational on Saturday, October 19.
