INDEPENDENCE, Ore. – Linfield senior Alex Oathout and sophomore Jayden Taylor were the top male and female finishers Saturday at the Northwest Conference Cross Country Championships.
 
The meet, hosted by Willamette University at Oak Knoll Golf Course, featured all nine NWC cross country programs. Race conditions were dry with cool temperatures and covered a flat and open course.
 
MEN
Placing 23rd overall, Oathout set the pace for the Linfield men, completing the eight-kilometer circuit in 25 minutes, 47.7 seconds. Sophomore Devin Harrison was seconds behind Oathout, placing 25th in 25:56.1.
 
Bradley Kiltow timed 28:23.4 to place 65th, Conner Dooley was 72nd in 29:20.8 and Levi Jones crossed the finish line in 30:20.9, good for 76th place.
 
The Linfield men earned nine place in the team standings.
 
WOMEN
Taylor led the Linfield contingent over the women's six-kilometer course, placing 53rd overall in 25:02.1. She returned to live competition after being sidelined for two meets with an illness.
 
Junior Leah Stednick was just over a minute behind Taylor in 63rd place, finishing in 26:05.1. Saniyah Ayala clocked 26:27.5 to place 68^th and Liberty McElfatrick placed 76th in 30:02.0.
 
With just four available runners, the Wildcat women did not post a team score.
 
AHEAD
The Wildcat now look ahead to the NCAA Division III West Region Championships set for Saturday, Nov. 16, at McIver State Park near Estacada. All nine Wildcats are expected to compete.