Wildcats Tune-up for NWC Championships

October 18, 2014

ESTACADA, Ore. – Helping both Linfield squads finish among the top five Northwest Conference programs competing at the Lewis & Clark Invitational, Kaelia Neal and Alex Mangan paced the Wildcats in their respective races Saturday morning at McIver State Park. Linfield's women placed fifth overall, and fourth among league squads, with 147 points while. The Wildcat men, meanwhile, took 10th overall and fifth against Northwest Conference competition with 247 points.

The Wildcat women tear from the line at the L&C Invite.

“We’re definitely heading in the right direction at the right time,” stated associate head coach Greg Mitchell. “We weren’t at full force on either side due to some injuries. When we get those things ironed out, I am very optimistic about our prospects at the NWC Championships.”

Neal was one of five scoring runners to place among the Top 50 on the women's side, finishing 19th in 23 minutes, 45.60 seconds for the six-kilometer race. Fellow freshman Emma Knudson took 25th in 24:01.40 and Audrey Lichten competing in just her second meet of the season after recovering from an illness to start the year, was 31st in 24:20.70.

Linfield's second finisher, Emma Knudson, battles early in the race.

“We raced pretty well,” stated senior captain Calli Dowdy. “We’ve got two more weeks to prepare for the championships and I am really excited by what I think we can do there.” Dowdy finished fourth for the Wildcats and 38th overall (24:33.20) and Brooke Niemann  finished as the 49th runner to cross the tape in 24 minutes, 50.60 seconds.

Sarah Rasmussen-Rehkopf and Katie Higinbotham run together mid-race.

On the men's side, Mangan clocked in at 26 minutes, 49.20 seconds over eight kilometers to finish 38th overall. Jeff Lee and Adrian Clifford also placed among the Top 50 competitors. Lee was 42nd in 26:56.20 and Clifford finished 46th in 26:58.90.

Alex Mangan (left), Adrian Clifford and Jeff Lee work together mid-race.

Flint Martino and Chris Poole rounded out the scoring contingent with 52nd and 87th place finishes, respectively. Martino crossed the tape after 27 minutes, 6.60 seconds while Poole completed the course in 27 minutes, 53.80 seconds.

Linfield Cross Country Team Captain Tells His "Student Story"
October 14, 2014

Senior Chad Linnerooth talks about his time at Linfield in this 2 minute video. Get to know Chad and learn about his experiences in the classroom as an exercise science major and as a Wildcat cross country and track and field athlete. Also, check out his excellent beard.

Link to the video here:
Linfield Student Stories: Chad Linnerooth

Linfield XC Senior Captain Chad Linnerooth in action earlier this season.

Neal Nabs NWC Student-Athlete of the Week Honors
October 13, 2014

Linfield rookie Kaelia Neal has been honored as the Northwest Conference Women's Cross Country Student-Athlete of the Week. The honor was announced by the league office Tuesday following a vote of the conference's sports information directors.

Neal finished as the top competitor from the Wildcat contingent and ninth out of 59 runners in all to lead Linfield to second place in the team standings at the Wes Cook Cross Country Classic on Oct. 11. Neal completed the five-kilometer course in 19 minutes, 32 seconds.

This is the first NWC award for Neal, who was Linfield's No. 1 finisher for the first time in her young career.

Kaelia Neal pushes the pace as she battles for a top 10 finish at the Wes Cook Invitational.

‘Cats Race Well at Wes Cook Invitational
October 11, 2014

SALEM, Ore. – On a day marked by all of the tell-tale signs of a perfect fall cross country day – cool temperatures, freshly mowed grass and orange and red hues in the trees – the Wildcats headed to Willamette Mission Park to do battle with a small but talented field at the Wes Cook Invitational. The men raced first, battling to a third-place finish while the women placed second as a team over the 5k course.

The Wildcat men charge from the line at the Wes Cook Invitational.

“We’ve been working with a lot of intensity at practice over the last few weeks and racing pretty frequently,” stated head coach Travis Olson. “The results from Saturday are actually very promising. We’ll be backing off soon as we get ready for the championships and the athletes will have fresh legs – to run well on tired legs like they did bodes well for the future.”

Flint Martino (left) and Tyler Griffin battle to the finish.

The men were led by the trio of Mike O’Neil (26:17), Adrian Clifford (26:45) and Alex Mangan (26:50) who all dipped under 27 minutes over the uneven terrain of the park. “I felt absolutely average,” stated Mangan. “We’re working pretty hard so I knew I’d be a bit tired, but I was hoping for more. Not too bad though, I guess.”

The top three were followed across the line by Jeff Lee (27:07) and Chad Linnerooth (27:31) who rounded out the top five scorers on the day. Linnerooth was followed closely to the finish by Flint Martino (27:38) and Tyler Griffin (27:39).

The Lady 'Cats pack up and run together early in the race.

On the women’s side, the Lady ‘Cats were led across the line by Kaelia Neal (19:32), who finished as the top runner for the first time this season. Neal was followed less than a second later by Emma Knudson (19:32), and both ended up in the top ten for the day. Jaime Rodden finished about 15 seconds later in 19:46 and was followed closely into the finish chute by the other scoring members of the team: Audrey Lichten (20:01) and Rebeca DeLeon (20:12). Calli Dowdy (20:17) and Vera Heidmann (20:21) rounded out the top 7 on the day.

Jaime Rodden, Kaelia Neal and Emma Knudson work together to move up mid-race.

Mitchell Wins National Title
October 5, 2014

SYRACUSE, NY – Linfield’s associate head coach Greg Mitchell headed to Upstate New York to compete in the US Masters 5k Championships. The championship – hosted by the Syracuse Festival of Races 5k – featured hundreds of the country’s best runners over 40 years-old. With cool, breezy conditions but a flat course to work with, Mitchell, bested the field, winning in 15:03 for his third US Masters Championship title of the year.

“It was great to win,” stated Mitchell. “But I was hoping to run faster and dip under 15 minutes.” Chad Newton of North Carolina, last year’s champion, finished in second place, 37 seconds behind Mitchell.

“It’s a ton of fun to go to these events,” stated Mitchell. “There is some impressive talent there. I mean you’ve got 70 year-old women running 22 minutes for 5k and 65 year-old men running sub-17. It’s pretty inspiring to know your racing career doesn’t have to end until you want it to. I love this stuff.”

Linfield coach Greg Mitchell (far left, #402) dashes from the line.

Wildcat Men Give Back at the Portland Marathon
October 5, 2014

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Linfield men’s cross country team made the trek up to Portland to volunteer at the Portland Marathon. After getting their requisite long run in amidst the trails at Forest Park, the Wildcat men helped support and direct runners participating in the marathon.

“It’s always good to give back to the sport that has given us so much,” stated senior captain Chad Linnerooth who organized the trip. “It was fun to help people as they chased their goals. I think the marathoners really appreciated us being there.”

The men's cross country team models their Portland Marathon volunteer shirts.

Wildcats Battle at Bowles
October 4, 2014

SALEM, Ore. – Racing for the first time in two weeks but without a completely healthy squad, the Wildcats focused on solo highlights – including top finishes by Jaime Rodden and Alex Mangan – after the 40th annual Charles Bowles Invitational, on a warm Saturday at Bush Park.

“It wasn't our best showing today but we also didn't have a full group out there due to sickness and injury,” said head coach Travis Olson. “Individually we had some bright spots.”

Mangan crossed the tape first for Linfield and 70th overall in the Men's Cardinal 8K – which consisted of NCAA DI, DII and DIII teams – completing the course in 26 minutes, 37.6 minutes.  “Alex had a good race and is looking stronger every week,” Olson said.
 

Alex Mangan charges to the finish line at the Charles Bowles Invite.

Rodden was the Wildcats' top finisher on the women's side, taking 66th overall in the Women's Cardinal 5K in 19 minutes, 31.4 seconds.

Fellow rookies Kaelia Neal and also had solid showings, finishing 72nd and 76th overall. Neal completed five kilometers in 19:41.1 and Knudson was just a few seconds behind at 19:44.5. “Jaime, Kaelia and Emma all had good races as freshman and are getting better each week,” Olson said. “Calli also had a 5K PR today and is having the best season of her career.”