INDEPENDENCE, Ore. – London Haley crossed the line in 23:55.5, becoming the first Whitworth man to finish an 8,000-meter cross country race in under 24 minutes, leading the Pirates to a sixth place team finish at the George Oja Invitational hosted by Linfield University on Saturday at Oak Knoll Golf Course.
Kezlie Thygesen finished sixth in the women's 6,000-meter race to guide the Whitworth women to a seventh place finish.
Haley's time is the fastest on record for the Pirate men. He finished ninth overall and was the first Northwest Conference runner across the line and within 30 seconds of the winning time of 23:26.0 put up by Jack Gladfelter of Corban University.
Hector Gomez finished 43rd in 24:45.0 for Whitworth. Tristan Morris finished 72nd (25:17.0), with Alex McIntyre following in 87th place (25:34.4). Tom McKee was the fifth Pirate placer in 98th place (25:43.7). There were 399 competitors in the men's race.
The top ten men's team scores were: Portland (NCAA Div. I) 48, Western Oregon (DII) 72, George Fox (DIII) 156, Eastern Washington (DI) 166, Seattle U (DI) 173, Whitworth 246, Lane CC 281, St. John's (DIII) 309, Luther (DIII) 318. Other Northwest Conference finishers were: 11 Willamette 322, 16 Puget Sound 400, 18 Whitman 470, 24 Linfield 711, 28 Pacific (Ore.) 850, 32 Pacific Lutheran 928.
Thygesen had one of her best races as a Pirate, covering the course in 21:24.4 to cross in sixth place. She was the second NWC runner across the line.
Alauna Carstens of Evergreen State won the race for the third straight year, posting a time of 20:38.5.
Ashlyn Dary was 31st in 22:00.0 while Lily Jones was 36th in 22:09.4. Reagan Rich was close behind in 40th place (22:13.4) and Bethany Doggett was 54th (22:22.5).
The final top ten women's scores were: Eastern Washington (DI) 88, Carleton, Minn. (DIII) 91, Western Oregon (DII) 98, George Fox (DIII) 107, Portland (DI) 118, Seattle U (DI) 137, Whitworth 143, Portland St. (DI) 210, Southwestern Oregon CC 282, CC of Spokane 346. The rest of the NWC teams were: 14 Puget Sound 415, 18 Whitman 548, 21 Pacific Lutheran 599, 23 Pacific (Ore.) 646, 25 Linfield 712, 27 Lewis & Clark 744, 28 Willamette 769.
Whitworth will now prepare for the Northwest Conference Championships on Saturday, October 31st. Those Pirates who do not compete at the NWC Championships will conclude their season next Saturday at the Tyson Invitational hosted by George Fox at The Course in Spokane Valley.
