Linfield’s women’s cross country team placed third and the men’s team placed ninth in the Lewis and Clark Invitational Saturday.

The women’s team competed against 12 teams and completed its first 6K of the season.

Junior Courtney Beard finished eighth with a time of 22 minutes and 12.4 seconds. Senior Emma Knudson followed in10th place with a time of 22:15.8.

Senior Kaelia Neal placed 14th, senior Jaime Rodden 42nd and freshman Nicole Bissey rounded out the scoring, placing 43rd.

Southern Oregon University Jessa Perkinson took first place with a time of 21 minutes and 11.8 seconds.

“The girls team is really strong this year and I’m excited to see what happens at the next meet,” sophomore Annie Coleman said.

The men’s team competed in an 8K. Senior Jeff Lee finished 22nd with a time of 26:13.2.

Junior Calvin Ong finished 40th, sophomore Liam Pickhardt 69th, junior Grant Blodgette 79th, and Cameron Holland rounded out the scoring for Linfield, placing 86th.

Pacific Lutheran University Brad Hodkinson took first with a time of 24:55.3.

“Conference is in two weeks, so it is time for our team to mentally lock in. We have the ability to go out there and perform, it’s just about putting all of our hard work together in one race,” sophomore Asa Richerson said.

The top ten finishing women on the Linfield team competing in the Northwest Conference championship will be senior Kaelia Neal, freshman Nicole Bissey, senior Jamie Rodden, freshman Kelsey Kuhn, sophomore Kelly Roth, senior Kerri Paasche, senior Rebecca de Leon, sophomore Maiti Hunter, Knudson, and Beard. All of the men on the Linfield team will be advancing to the NCW championships.

Qualifying racers will compete next at the NWC championships at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 28, in Walla Walla, Washington.