SALEM, Ore. - Jimmy Oribo placed third overall to lead a strong showing for the Lewis-Clark State College men’s cross country team as it finish second in the 37th annual Charles Bowles Invitational at Willamette University on Saturday.
The Warrior women also enjoyed an outstanding day by finishing fifth in a field that featured six teams ranked in the NAIA Top 15.
“I’m very pleased with both teams,” LCSC coach Mike Collins said. “The men finished second among 23 teams and ran very well, and the women probably had their best team race in a couple of years. They ran as a pack early and that’s a huge step for them.”
Oribo, a junior, covered the 8-kilometer course in 24 minutes and 18.47 seconds to finish second among the scoring runners. William Kinkaid, who ran unattached, won the race, while Sawyer Unt-Bosh of the Boise State University Track Club finished second – first among scoring runners – in 24:05.96.
Oribo’s finish helped LCSC, ranked No. 10 in the NAIA, finish second with 92 points. Concordia of Oregon, ranked No. 5, won the meet with 85 points. Defending national champion Southern Oregon, ranked No. 8, had 94 points for third. Eastern Oregon, ranked No. 23, finished sixth with 172 points, while Biola, ranked No. 17, was seventh with 189 points. Fourth-ranked University of British Columbia was ninth with 249 points.
Freshman Cody Larson of Boise was LCSC’s second finisher in 10th at 24:57.52, while teammate Sam Atkin was 13th among the scoring runners at 25:02.21.
A nice pickup for the Warriors was the return of All-American Dave Marks, who competed in his first meet since suffering a foot injury last spring. Marks, who has only recently been allowed to resume full workouts, finished 37th overall.
On the women’s side, the Warriors, ranked No. 19, finished fifth with 204 points. No. 6 ranked UBC won the meet with 69 points, followed by No. 5 Northwest Christian with 82 points, No. 3 Biola with 96, No. 9 Concordia at 129, and LCSC. No. 15 Southern Oregon was sixth at 205.
Freshman Sophie Bush led the Warriors as she finished No. 22 in the 5-kilometer race in 18:38.60. Chelsey Leighton was 38th, while Francis Rojas was 40th.
Collins said if the women can run as a pack throughout the race, they will be a force this season.
MEN
Top 10 team scores – 1, Concordia 85. 2, LCSC 92. 3, Southern Oregon 94. 4, Point Grey Track Club 120. 5, Everett CC 125. 6, Eastern Oregon 172. 7, Biola 189. 8, Boise State Track and Field Club233. 9, British Columbia 249. 10, Point Loma 276.
LCSC results – 2, Jimmy Oribo 24:18.47. 10, Cody Larson 24:57.52. 13, Sam Atkin 25:02.21. 31, Cody Glad 25:29.22. 36, Hayden Randall 25:35.31. 37, Dave Marks 25:36.02. 72, Nick Pierson 26:20.77.
Other LCSC finishers – Mike McHan 26:26.0; Taylor Galusha 26:42.36; Jacob Wimpenny 28:23.47; Keaton Trom 29:23.73.
WOMEN
Top 10 team scores – 1, British Columbia 69. 2, Northwest Christian 82. 3, Biola 96. 4, Concordia 129. 5, LCSC 204. 6, Southern Oregon 205. 7, Everett CC 230. 8, Point Loma 231. 9, Northwest Nazarene 243. 10, Oregon Track Club 253.
LCSC – 22, Sophie Bush 18:36.60. 38, Chelsey Leighton 18:59.15. 40, Francis Rojas 19:01.73. 49, Madison Randall 19:25.34. 55, Nicole Dillavou 19:29.94. 58, Stephanie Shuel 19:32.49. 67, Amanda Palmer 19:42.57.
Other LCSC finishers – Samantha Minor 19:54.93; Whitlee Young 20:19.09; Alyssa Rapovy 20:20.39; AnnieKate Olson 20:29.64; Hannah Maus 21:15.57; LaDawn Vinson 21:51.48; Ashlie Renfro 22:45.37; Ashley Barnes 23:01.49; Sydnee Morehouse 23:16.13.
