A new era begins for Linfield cross country

For the first time in nearly a decade, the Linfield cross country program welcomes new leadership, as alumnus Chris McIsaac takes over at the helm of the program. McIsaac inherits two rosters, totaling one returning athlete and nine new Wildcats. Following a ninth-place finish at the Northwest Conference Championships last season, both teams look to rely on new faces from top to bottom to climb atop the NWC standings.

The Wildcats open the season in under 48 hours at McIver State Park in Estacada, Ore. at the Lewis & Clark Opener. For many, their first taste of collegiate cross country. 

The Linfield Women's cross country team welcomes in three freshman to the roster, including Mya Budzik, recent graduate from McMinnville High School. Joining Budzik, Ximena Sanchez-Lopez from Lincoln City, Ore. and Jasmine Solso from Raymond, Wash. look to make an immediate impact on the Wildcats roster. 

“Mya from McMinnville has a resume of an athlete who has had success in the past. She and Jasmine [Solso] will be two that I believe will make an immediate impact as newcomers on the team.”

The Men's roster sees an entirely new lineup, featuring four freshman 'Cats. Orion Bretheron, Joaquin Rameriz Dod, Marco Stroman, and Finley Wodke. Wodke brings extensive experience as a middle distance track & field runner at the high school level, as he will compete on both teams in his first year as a Wildcat.

“I'm excited about CJ and Marco. Those two come in running good mileage and have been doing some great workouts. Watching them run the past couple of weeks, I see what they're capable of and I'm excited to see what we're able to do with them towards the end of the season.”

With the season within reach, the Wildcats are set to compete in Oregon for four of the five meets leading up to the Northwest Conference Championships in Tacoma, Wash. on November 1st. Linfield will gain meaningful experience at the PLU Meadows course on September 20th, the same site as the NWC meet later in the season.

The ‘Cats compete at home on October 18th, hosting the annual George Oja Invitational at Oak Knoll Golf Course, the final meet prior to the conference showdown. Picked ninth in both the men’s and women's NWC Preseason Coaches Polls, Coach McIsaac aims to get his collegiate coaching career started by establishing a competitive culture early on.