McMinnville, OR - The Trojans competed over the weekend at the George Oja Cross Country Invitational hosted by Linfield College. It was by far the largest field of the season with over 250 runners in the men's race and 187 runners in the women's race. The men ran their typical 8k distance while the women ran a 6k, 1 kilometer longer than what they will see at the Northwest Region and NWAC Championship meet.
Despite the longer distance, four EvCC women set 6k PR's, highlighted by freshman Jessica Henry who was two minutes and ten seconds faster than her 6k time at the PLU Invite last month. Sophomore Emma Arceo was also nearly two minutes faster. Two other freshman, Elizabeth Weatherhogge was one minute faster and Angelina Pamatian was 31 seconds faster. Both Isabelle Gutierrez and Cassandra Smith ran in their first 6k's of the season and beat out eleven other NWAC opponents. The large field consisted mostly of four year program competitors, including NCAA Divsion I Seattle University and the University of Portland. Emma Arceo was the top finisher for EvCC finishing 121st overall, but 11th among NWAC competitors running 25:31.8. Angelina Pamatian was not far behind, finishing 132nd overall (14th among NWAC competition), and running 26:01.3.
The men's race was enormous as far as competitors go, 257 in total, again featuring predominately four year programs. The size of the field seemed to help the EvCC men as all four hit season PR's. Freshman Blake Wayman was the second finisher for the Trojans, with a one minute and 15 second PR. Yahir Marban led the way for EvCC who PR'd by 58 seconds and finished inside the top 100 at 95th overall. Yahir beat out the top finishers from two other NWAC schools and over 100 runners competing at four year institutions. Lone sophomore Vitalii Shvets ran the best 8k of his life by one minute and three seconds, and freshman Adrian Vigil improves each race, this time by 40 seconds.
The Everett Cross Country program will have two weeks to prepare for the Northwest Region Championship meet on October 28th at Lakewood High School. The women will compete in a 5k race against Edmonds, Green River, Olympic, and Pierce while the men will compete in an 8k against Edmonds, Green River, and Olympic.