CHUGIAK, ALASKA -- Willamette University won the women's race and the University of Alaska-Anchorage prevailed in the men's race, in a cross country dual meet on Thursday, Sept. 11 at Beach Lake Trails.

The WU women's team, tied for #7 in the NCAA Division III Preseason Poll, earned a score of 25. Anchorage, which competes in NCAA Division II, achieved a score of 31. In the men's race, Anchorage recorded a perfect score of 15 with the top seven places. The UAA men are ranked #8 in the NCAA Division II Preseason Poll. Willamette's men scored 50. Each race covered a 4.2 kilometer course.

Taylor Ostrander (Jr., Kenai, AK/Kenai Central HS), running in her home state for the first time as a Bearcat, led Willamette to victory in the women's race. She took first place in 15:28.0, to edge out teammate Olivia Mancl (So., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS) who finished in 15:28.2. Beatrice Decker of UAA took third in 15:47.9.

Jessica Pahkala form Alaska-Anchorage was fourth in 15:51.8. Michaela Freeby (Sr., Milwaukie, OR/Rex Putnam HS) of Willamette was fifth with a time of 15:52.1.

Also contributing to the women's team score for the Bearcats were Hannah Bressler (Jr., Oak Harbor, WA/Oak Harbor HS) and Juliet Farnan (Jr., Lafayette, CA/Campolindo HS). Bressler placed eighth in 16:03.2, while Farnan took ninth in 16:05.5. Jessica Talbot (Fr., San Francisco, CA/Gateway HS) was 10th after completing the course in 16:06.2.

Alaska-Anchorage runner Henry Cheseto achieved first place in the men's race with a time of 12:38.8. Dominik Notz of UAA was second at 12:40.5 and Victory Somoei of UAA was third at 12:43.2

Willamette's top finisher in the men's competition was Jacob Shafi (Jr., Pleasanton, CA/Amador Valley HS) in eighth place at 13:07.6. Daniel Swanson (Sr., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS) followed in ninth place at 13:09.7.

Yonny Castillo (Jr., Parkdale, OR/Hood River Valley HS) of WU took 10th place in 13:22.1. Forrest Smith (Fr., Crested Butte, CO/Crested Butte HS) was 11th in 13:31.9, and Patrick Loftus (Fr., Healdsburg, CA/Sonoma Academy) placed 12th with a time of 13:43.9.

The Bearcats will return to action on Saturday, Sept. 20 when they will host the Oak Knoll Loop Run. Meet time at the Oak Knoll Golf Course near Independence, Ore., is set for 10:30 a.m. (PDT).