SALEM, Ore. -- Mara Schwenneker (Jr.) was the top finisher of The Evergreen State College in the women's 5-kilometer race at the 49th Annual Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 5. Jaydon Blackburn (So.) and Max Baeder (So.) both finished in the top 80 for the Geoducks in the men's 8-kilometer race, which featured 279 runners.

Schwenneker was 161st out of 216 runners in the women's race. She achieved a time of 21:29.2. Maddie Morgan (Jr.) followed Schwenneker for the Geoducks in 24:21.5. Olivia Pare (Sr.) also participated for Evergreen.

Blackburn placed 75th in the men's race with a time of 25:45.9. Baeder was 79th just one second later at 25:56.9. Evergreen placed 15th out of 25 teams in the men's standings.

"Incredible, incredible day for the Geoducks!," Evergreen Head Cross Country Coach Joel Pearson said. "We've been working really hard in preparation for this part of the season, and it showed! Jaydon and Max ran the fifth and sixth best times in school history! Rowan Hicks, Luis Esquivel, and Osvaldo Calderon ran top 25 times in school history. Everyone in an Evergreen jersey ran their personal record."

Hicks (So.) was timed at 26:54.1 in the men's race. Esquivel (Fr.) completed the course in 27:32.3 and Calderon (Fr.) was timed at 27:46.3. Also competing for Evergreen were Harlan Estrada (Jr.) and Cooper Osborn (Jr.), and Atticus Lauderdale (Fr.).

"This team is really hitting their stride now," Evergreen Assistant Cross Country Coach Katie Burnett said. "The work they've put in is showing through their continued PR's and all-time performances."

In the women's race, Emilie Langschwager from the University of Hawaii was the winner in 17:03.5. Lucy Milliner, also from Hawaii, placed second at 17:09.8. Unattached runner Alauna Carstens was third in 17:11.6 and Kaylee Barnes from St. Mary's College (Calif.) was fourth in 17:13.3. Unattached competitor Rose Perotin placed fifth at 17:19.6.

St. Mary's grabbed the women's team title with a score of 56 (3-8-12-13-20) and College of Southern Idaho took second place at 76. Hawaii was third at 91, with College of Idaho in fourth at 107, and University of Portland in fifth at 145. Evergreen did not field a complete team.

The winner of the men's individual title was Daniel Butler from the College of Idaho with a time of 23:47.4. He led a 1-2-3 finish for the Yotes, with Elias Evrerist in second place at 23:48.1, and Hayden Bostrom in third place at 23:51.8. Juan Chantaca from the University of California Irvine was fourth in 23:56.6 and Johan Correa of Central Washington University was fifth in 23:59.2.

College of Idaho claimed the men's team title with a score of 43 (1-2-3-17-20). UC Irvine was second with a score of 58 and the CCC Elite club team was third at 109. Eastern Oregon University placed fourth at 111 and Central Washington was fifth at 114.

The meet was hosted by Willamette University at Bush's Pasture Park. The competition featured teams from the NAIA, all three NCAA Divisions, NJCAA teams, club teams, and unattached runners.

Evergreen will run at the George Oja Linfield Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 19. The meet will be held at Oak Knoll Golf Course in Salem, Oregon.