CALDWELL, Idaho — The Eastern Oregon men’s cross-country team captured the Cascade Collegiate Conference championship, easily holding off second-place College of Idaho 48-63 on Friday, Nov. 3.

All five scorers finished in the top 13 for the Mountaineers and all of their runners were in the top 22.

Junior Justin Ash led the way for EOU as he took third in 24 minutes, 35.1 seconds, just 10 seconds off the race winner.

Junior Cristian Mendoza took ninth in 24:58.4, Hunter Nichols, a senior, was 11th in 25:00.6 for 11th, Thomas Ogden, a sophomore, was right behind him in 25:00.9 for 12th and junior Winston Telford was 13th to complete the pack of Mountaineers in 25:04.2.

Junior Jonny Wind took 15th in 25:18.7 and junior George Showers was 22nd in 25:28.1.

EOU now prepares for the NAIA National Championship Nov. 17 at Fort Vancouver State Park in Vancouver, Washington. The Mountaineers, who finished third at the conference meet a year ago, will look to improve on last year’s 12th-place showing at nationals.

EOU women finish with at CCC meet

CALDWELL, Idaho — The Eastern Oregon women’s cross-country team finished fifth at the Cascade Collegiate Conference Meet on Friday, Nov. 3, with 142 points. College of Idaho claimed the team title with 17 points.

Lauryn Mitchell was the Mountaineers’ top finisher taking 20th with a time of 20 minutes, 1.6 seconds. The next two point-earners were Riley Morris and Elisabeth Young who took 32nd and 33rd, respectively. Morris finished with a time of 21:03.9 followed by Young’s 21:11.8. Madelyn Nichols finished in 35th and Deirdre McKay in 37th. Nichols posted a time of 21:17.8 and finishing just two spots back was McKay with a time of 21:32.

EOU’s season concluded with this competition.