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.