The Wildcat Cross Country team raced in the Northwest Conference Championships on Saturday, October 29 at George Fox University.

The women’s team ran hard and came out getting third place overall out of nine competing teams in the 6-kilometer race. As a team, the women’s average time was 23 minutes and 10 seconds.

Individually, Emma Knudson once again came out on top for the Wildcats, placing eighth out of 80 female runners with a time of 22:30.3. Courtney Beard came in a close 10th place with a time of 22:2.1. Kaelia Neal came in 22nd place with a time of 23:11.9. Katie Higinbotham came in 27th place with a time of 23:33. Kerri Paasche came in 39th place with a time of 23:58.9. Vera Heidmann came in 54th place with a time of 24:54.5. Ana Ramirez, the last Wildcat to factor in the scoring, came in 57th place with a time of 25:1.1s.

“Many of us PR’ed, some of us by a minute, and that really propelled us forward to our third place finish. I think we really put ourselves out there and it paid off. I’m excited for the energy of regionals. It’s such a cool atmosphere and everyone’s so primed and ready to race,” said Knudson.

“It’s also just another opportunity for us to race hard and PR and do really well, with the potential of a few individuals making it to nationals. Championship season is fun because it’s where all the hard work is shown,” she said.

“As an individual I’m looking for all region honors, another PR with the ultimate goal to make nationals. As a team we will be looking to peak for the ultimate performance by all,” said Beard.

Overall, the men’s team came in eight out of nine competing teams, with an average time of 27.08 in the 8k race.

Individually, Adrian Clifford led the team with a time of 26:25.2, placing 16th out of 79 runners. Chris Roth came in 22nd with a time of 26: 45.6. Calvin Ong came in 35th place with a time of 27:11.3. Jeff Lee came in 43rd place with a time of 27:28.8. Liam Pickhardt came in 51st place with a time of 27:48.8. Efrain Martinez-Santos came in 58th place with a time of 28:19.7. Art O’Kelly, the last Wildcat to factor in the scoring, came in a close 59th place with a time of 28:19.8.

Next, the Wildcats will race in the NCAA DIII West Regionals at 9 a.m. on Saturday, November 12 in Salem, Ore.