TACOMA, Wash. -- After a three-week break following their first meet, the George Fox cross country team returned ready to bring their A-game at the Pacific Lutheran Invitational on Saturday morning, taking first place for both the men and women's races as they prepared for Pre-Nationals.

Top Performances
Breanna Schmitt finished third in the women's overall results, with a total time of 21:40.9. Following close on her heels was Ellie Rising with 22:09.4, completing the competition in fifth place. Hope Bridge and Sarah Pullen were neck and neck — Bridge with a time of 23:00.8, and then Pullen at 23:05.8 in ninth and tenth place. 

Hannah Tranby and Karina Rodriguez were next up, with Tranby placing in 13th with a time of 23:12.5 while Rodriguez was in 14th with a time of 23:14.8. Annalise Gonzales rounded out the Fox women with a 16th place finish after a run of 23:17.9. The women completed the day with a score of 31 in first place.

On the men's side, Aidan Arthur finished eighth overall with a time of 24:52.9, while Gabriel Lachenmeier and Caden Hildenbrand were only two seconds shy of a tie, with Lachenmeier at 25:10.6 and Hildenbrand with 25:12.0. 

Gavin Grass was next up in 15th with a time of 25:21.0, while Caleb Doddington was the next Bruin in line, finishing 21st with his time of 25:34.2. Kellen Ruiz and Benjamin Bourne finished out the top seven Bruins, with Ruiz placing 23rd and Bourne 27th. As a unit, the men finished in first place overall with a score of 67.

Up Next
Select Fox athletes will be back in a week to race again at the Mike Johnson Classic in Monmouth, Ore at the Ash Creek Preserve. The meet is scheduled for Friday, September 27th.