Chew Takes 44th Place out of 257 Runners in George Oja 8-Kilometer Race

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University cross country runner Jay Chew (So., Elk Grove, CA/Laguna Creek HS) placed 44th out of 257 runners in the men's 8-kilometer race during the George Oja Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 14 at Oak Knoll Golf Course. The meet was hosted by Linfield University.

Chew completed the course in 25:18.0 and was just 30 seconds out of 18th place. Willamette took 13th place out of 24 teams in the men's standings.

The men's team title was won by the University of Portland with a score of 34 (2-6-7-9-10). Second place went to the Jacuzzi Boys club team at 96, while San Diego Mesa College was third at 110. Lewis & Clark College placed fourth at 133, just in front of Southern Idaho University in fifth at 136. Whitworth University was seventh at 191 and Seattle University was seventh at 249.

Chew led the Bearcats with his solid result. William Hennum (Jr., Henderson, NV/Liberty HS/SW Oregon CC) was Willamette's second runner to cross the finish line, as he placed 72nd in 25:26.8. Julien Trobaugh (Fy., St. Louis, MO/University City HS) was timed at 26:40.5, Adam Lewis (Fy., Glendale, CA/Eagle Rock HS) concluded the race in 26:46.7, and Sage Soto (Fy., Kapolei, HI/Kapolei HS) earned a time of 26:56.6.

Yonas Sauers from Seattle University grabbed first place in the men's race with a time of 24:03.7. He won by just over a second, as Chris Anderson from the University of Portland was second at 24:04.8. Alex Garcia-Silver, running unattached, placed third in 24:07.5 and Jesse Joseph of the Jacuzzi Boys earned fourth place in 24:07.7. Evan Markelz from Lewis & Clark was fifth at 24:08.4.

The Bearcats will run at the Northwest Conference Cross Country Championships on Saturday, Oct. 28 at Platnes Ferry Park in Spokane, Washington. The NWC action is schedule to start at 10 a.m. PDT.