WXC: NWC CHAMPIONSHIP - Strutz Leads Bruins but No Team Score in NWC Meet

NWC Women's Championship Results

ESTACADA, Ore. - Mary Strutz was the top runner for George Fox University for the second straight meet, but the Bruins were unable to collect a team score as only four athletes competed for them in the Northwest Conference Women's Cross Country Championship 6K race Saturday morning here at Milo McIver State Park.

With Dana Misterek and Joy Shufeldt placing second and third, Whitworth University captured the NWC Championship with 37 points, edging Whitman College's 43 points.  Linfield College took third with 83 points, followed by host Lewis & Clark College with 105, Willamette University with 112, Pacific Lutheran University with 161, the University of Puget Sound with 169, and Pacific University with 215.

Strutz ran a time of 26:04.10 to finish 68th individually in the meet.  She was followed closely by Jeannette Edle with a time of 26:09.60 (69th).  Also running for the Bruins were Bethany Strutz (Mary's older sister) with a 26:54.70 (75th) and Monica Hartzell with a 28:03.20 (76th).  

Marci Klimek of Linfield, who finished third last season, won this time in 21:50.80.  Misterek posted a time of 22:12.30 and Shufeldt had a 22:15.10.  The top seven finishers earned All-Conference First Team honors, with places eight through 14 garnering All-NWC Second Team status.

Next up the Bruins and other conference teams is the NCAA Division III West Regional on Saturday, Nov. 14, at Prado Park in Chino, Calif.