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Spring Break Gets off to Strong Start for ‘Cats
March 23, 2013

While the meet signaled the start of Spring Break, the weather didn’t indicate that spring was in the air at the Lewis and Clark Spring Break Open. Despite the cold weather, the Wildcats had many strong showings in the distance events.

In her first steeplechase of the season, Jill Boroughs dropped 10 seconds off her previous best and moved to number eight all-time at Linfield in the event. On the men’s side, Jason Hight ran just off his personal best and well under the NWC qualifying mark despite the frigid temperatures of the water pit.

“There was definitely motivation to have a good water jump and clear the pit today,” stated Hight.

Jason Hight looks to clear the water pit at the L&C Spring Break Open.

Later in the day, with temperatures finally warming, the 5000 meters saw Hannah Greider drop 20 seconds off of her previous personal best from earlier in the season to finish 5th overall. Her time of 18:26 put her less than 10 seconds off of the Linfield top-ten list. In the same race, Emily Kreifels also notched an all-time personal best.

Distance Crew Continues to Shine at Wildcat Open
March 16, 2013

Though the sun failed to make an appearance at the meet, the Wildcat distance crew managed to shine through the wind and the rain that pestered athletes all day at the Wildcat Open, Linfield’s second home meet of the season.

Siena Noe and Jill Boroughs continued their stellar seasons by hitting the NWC qualifying standard in yet another event. For Noe, it was a third event in as many tries, this time in the 1500 meters. Boroughs qualified in the 5000 meters.

The Wildcats saw athletes reach season’s bests and personal records in the 800 meters, 1500 meters and the 5k. “We’re definitely going in the right direction,” stated assistant coach Greg Mitchell. “Some are absolutely smashing personal records and some are knocking off a second here or there, but everyone is making positive progress, which is what it’s all about.”

Cameron Chester races a 5k on the Linfield track.

Lester Maxwell "Maxing-out" on Life's Experiences

Never-back-down, thrill-seeker Lester Maxwell has focused his competitive nature on becoming one of the league’s top middle-distance runners.

For the full story, click here.

Lester Maxwell anchoring the Linfield 4x4.

Wildcats Race Well at GFU
March 9, 2013

The Wildcat track and field team rolled down Highway 99W to Newberg, OR over the weekend to do battle with Lewis & Clark and GFU at the Rich Allen Classic hosted by George Fox University.

Highlights from the meet featured Siena Noe and Hannah Greider who went 1-2 in the 5000 meters, running personal bests and finishing well under the NWC qualifying standard. Jill Boroughs also bagged a NWC qualifier in the 1500 meters, in a personal best time. Personal bests were also achieved by Ian Lundgren in the 800 meters and Flint Martino in the 5000 meters.

“Saturday was a solid, if not spectacular day for the team,” stated assistant coach Greg Mitchell. “We had some good performances but we also had a lot of athletes competing on tired legs which resulted in some disappointment for some. But at this point in the season, we’re where we want to be. The goal is the NWC Championships in late April.”

Jill Boroughs races to a personal best in the 1500m at the Rich Allen Classic

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Q & A With the ‘Cats – Get to know Siena Noe

Year: Junior

Home Town: Yakima, WA

Major/Minor: Communications/Spanish

Why did you come to Linfield?

I liked the school size, the pretty campus, and Mr. Greg Mitchell. I’d also heard great things about the study abroad program and I wanted to run! Linfield gave me a lot of money, too, which always helps :)

What is your fondest memory thus far from your time at Linfield?

XC hands down.

What is it that you enjoy most about cross country?

The team aspect and the racing!

Who is your athletic hero/role-model?

My teammates.

Do you crinkle your race bib number or leave it smooth?

CRINKLE.

What’s your most embarrassing athletic moment?

Before running my first 800m race in track I asked my coach what my strategy should be. He said to sprint from the get go, run as fast as possible for both laps. Absurd advice…I placed dead last after having led the first lap. Pretty sure I crawled across the finish line.

What is your favorite movie?

Gran Torino

What song is most played on your iPod?

The Collapse – Adelita’s Way

What is your homepage on your computer?

Google

What words of wisdom would you offer to a college-bound high school senior? 

This is one of the only times in your life where you have this kind of freedom before you’re saddled with the responsibilities of the “real world” like say, a kid. Make the most of it. Get involved. It opens the door to roughly three thousand bajillion opportunities.

Siena Noe battles with the leaders at the 2012 L&C Invitational.

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Linfield Distance Crew Makes History at Icebreaker
March 1 & 2

Wildcat distance runners Siena Noe and Hannah Greider started the outdoor season off with a bang Friday night at the Erik Anderson Memorial Icebreaker, registering career-best times in the 10,000 meters that catapulted both women into the Linfield Top 10. Noe placed third, clocking a time of 38:14 that now ranks sixth fastest in program history. Greider came in fourth in 38:30 and moved into eighth place in the record books.

“It was a pretty special night,” stated assistant coach Greg Mitchell. “The weather was great, the stadium lights were on, the crowd was a bit rowdy and Siena and Hannah took full advantage.”

On the men’s side, Calvin Howell ran a personal best to hit the NWC qualifying mark in a solid time of 33:27.

Calli Dowdy and Jill Boroughs both recorded career-best times to place seventh in their respective events; Dowdy in the 800 (2:31.37) and Boroughs in the 5,000 meters (19:17, a 30-second PR).

Lester Maxwell was runner-up in the 800, clocking in at 1:57.63. Cameron Chester chopped nearly a full minute off his previous career best in the 5K, finishing third with a time of 15 minutes, 37 seconds.

“The first meet went well and we look forward to building from here,” stated Mitchell.

Lester Maxwell leads the pack early in the 800m at the Icebreaker.

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Linfield T&F Alumni Have Busy Weekend
March 1 & 2

Joanna Murphy (’07) had a successful race at the USA Indoor Championships on Saturday, placing 7th overall in a time of 9:46. At the same meet, Catherine Street (’12) was able to compete in the pole vault, an event that resulted in a new world record. Jenn Suhr vaulted 16 feet, 5 inches to win the event with an historic mark. Street finished a respectable 10th in the event after clearing 13 feet, 7 inches.

At the Linfield Icebreaker, Shanna Peaden (’12) was runner-up in the 5,000 meters (18:24) on Saturday. Assistant coach Greg Mitchell (’95) placed second in Friday night’s 10K (30:49) while fellow assistant coach Chris  McIsaac (’10) took 12th in the same event (33:03).