University of Oregon
Mike Hodges Invitational
Wheating, Scherf Lead Sweep of Mike Hodges Invitational
10/18/08 | Cross Country
CLACKAMAS, Ore. -- Andrew Wheating and Lindsey Scherf led the Oregon cross country teams to a sweep of the Mike Hodges Invitational Saturday on the campus of Clackamas Community College.
Wheating and teammate Matthew Centrowitz, who ran unattached on Saturday, crossed the finish line together in 19:40 as Oregon runners claimed the first six spots in the men's race to score a perfect 15 points for the top-ranked Ducks. Southern Oregon was second with 59 points and Willamette third with 87.
Following Wheating and Centrowitz across the line were Chris Winter finishing third in 19:42, Eric Dettman (19:56), Isaac Stoutenburgh (19:57) and Matt Dettman (20:06). It was the first career cross country win for Wheating, a sophomore from Norwich, Vt., who was a 2008 Olympian in the 800 meters after finishing the outdoor track season with a pair of second-place finishes at the NCAA Championships and U.S. Olympic Team Trials.
"It was a great team effort," said assistant coach Andy Powell. "We had a good group running together out front from the start and had three guys -- Wheating, Centrowitz and Winter -- close it out together over the last mile."
Scherf, the Harvard graduate and four-time All-American for the Crimson, picked up her first win in an Oregon uniform by finishing in 17:05. Teammate Zoe Buckman was second in 17:15, with Zoe Nelson fourth in 17:29, Betsy Bies fifth in 17:31, freshman Bronwyn Crossman ninth in 17:39 and Brooke Giuffre 10th in 17:42. Nelson, a senior from Kalispell, Mont., also placed fourth at last season's Mike Hodges Invitational.
In the team standings, the second-ranked Oregon women took first with 21 points, followed by Portland with 52 and Oregon State with 75.
"It was a good, controlled performance by all today," said assistant coach Maurica Powell. "We got a good race from Scherf and Zoe Buckman and we accomplished what we wanted to do."
The Ducks will be back in action next weekend at the Beaver Invitational in Corvallis, before hosting the Pacific-10 Championships October 31 at Springfield Country Club.
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