LAKEWOOD, Wash. -- Mara Schwenneker (Jr.) was the top finisher for The Evergreen State College in the women's 4-kilometer race at the Green River Gator Invitational in cross country on Saturday, Sept. 14. Max Baeder (So.) led the Geoducks in the men's 6-kilometer race. The meet included many runners and teams from NCAA Division I and NCAA Division II.

Schwenneker placed 83rd with a personal record time of 16:18.7. Other top times for the Geoducks during the women's race were earned by Maddie Morgan (Jr.) in 19:30.4 and by Abigail Strickland (So.) in 20:45.8. Nadya Miller (So.) also participated in the race for Evergreen.

Baeder finished the men's race in 47th place as he completed the course in a school record of 18:44.9. Jaydon Blackburn (So.) was 61st in 19:06.3 . Luis Esquivel (Fr.) was timed at 20:25.6, while Osvaldo Calderon (Fr.) was timed at 20:39.1. Harlan Estrada (Jr.) of the Geoducks registered a time of 21:17.0 and Atticus Lauderdale (Fr.) ran the course in 21.44.6.

The Geoducks placed 12th out of 14 teams in the men's standings. The Evergreen women's team did not field a full team.

"I'm incredibly excited about today's performance! Lots of personal bests and a school record for Max! Great day to be a Geoduck!," Evergreen Head Cross Country Coach Joel Pearson commented. "We are very much looking forward to our CCC Preview meet next weekend!"

"Assistant Cross Country Coach Josh Beam added that "The team ran well today. This is my first meet with the team and I'm looking forward to more."

"It was great to see Mara come through with another personal record. This team is getting stronger by the week," said Assistant Cross Country Coach Katie Burnett.

Juliette Forstrom from the University of Portland won the women's 4-kilometer race in 13:06.1. Annika Esvelt form Seattle Pacific University was second at 13:08.6 and Samantha Prusse of Portland took third place in 13:22.6. Portland won the women's team title with a score of 25. Western Washington University was second at 50 points, and Seattle Pacific University placed third at 84. Simon Fraser University just missed the top three with a team score of 86.

The men's individual title was earned by Nate Lantz of Portland as he bested the field in 17:19.9. Portland teammate Nolan Hosbein was close in second place at 17:20.8. Ahmed Sado, also from Portland was third in 17:20.9. The top five finished were earned by the Vikings, as Portland took the team title with a perfect score of 15. Western Washington grabbed second place with a score of 79 and the Timberline Athletic Club was third at 102. Central Washington followed in fourth at 103.

Evergreen's cross country teams will compete at the Cascade Collegiate Conference Preview on Friday, Sept. 20 at the Rose City Golf Club in Portland, Oregon.