SALEM, Ore. – Racing in a crowded field at the Charles Bowles Invitational, the Linfield Wildcats continued to make strides, with both men's and women's squads placing 12 among 17 teams. The meet, featuring a mixture of NCAA Division I, II, III and NAIA programs, was hosted by Willamette University and contested at Bush's Pasture Park. 
 
Alex Oathout paced Linfield through the men's race while Jennifer Torres Bermudez was the Wildcats' leader on the women's side.
 
MEN
Alex Oathout led the Linfield contingent, placing 78th in the field of 208 competitors. Oathout covered the eight-kilometer course in 26:47.8. Calvin Cahill and Bradley Kiltow were close behind. Cahill finished in 87th place (27:01.6) while Kiltow was 88th (27:08.9).
 
Other Linfield racers included Kai Szostak, 139^th in 28:37.0, John Christian, 140^th in 28:43.1 and Conner Dooley, 149th in 29:09.7. Also competing were Brendan Perez, 167th in 30:00.2, Evan Kern, 168th in 30:05.0, Juston Rogers, 169th in 30:05.8, and Trent Fuhriman, 187th in 31:23.9.
 
WOMEN
Running in a throng of 159 athletes, Jennifer Torres Bermudez covered the five-kilometer route in 19:18.6, good for 39^th place. Makayla Erickson took 68^th place in 20:08.2, Kaylee Delzotti was 86^th in 20:36.6, Mary Sturley was 90^th in 20:45.1, and Abby Grebisz was 81^st in 20:45.1.
 
Also racing for Linfield were Amber Chaffee, 111^th in 21:38.2, Anna Frazier, 114^th in 21:44.3, Holly Riley, 115^th in 21:47.1, and Emma Brundage, 125^th in 22:17.2.
 
AHEAD
Linfield is idle next weekend but returns to action October 15 at the Lewis & Clark Invitational at McIver State Park in Estacada. First race is set to begin at 11:15 a.m. It will be the final tuneup for the Wildcats prior to the Northwest Conference Championships, Oct. 29 in Hillsboro.