MONMOUTH, Ore. – After hosting a successful Ash Creek Collegiate two weeks ago, the Western Oregon University men's and women's cross country programs will be right back on Ash Creek Preserve this Friday hosting the Mike Johnson Classic.

The meet is named after former WOU coach Mike Johnson who was at Western Oregon for 17 years guiding the cross country/track and field programs. He retired during the summer of 2020.

Joining WOU on the course will be Alaska Fairbanks, Cal State East Bay, College of Idaho, George Fox, Eastern Washington, Humboldt State, Lane CC, Linfield, Multnomah, Oregon State (W), Pacific, Portland, Simon Fraser, Siskiyous, UO Running Club, Walla Walla and Willamette. The women's race will be a 6k, while the men's will be an 8k.

On the women's side, Josie Ackerman, Kaylin Cantu, Katie Chapman, Luz Garcia, Caitlin Heldt, Emily Johnson, Kaitlyn Kruse, Lindie Larson, Kaiya Leamy, Emily Moore and Shannon Smith are all set to compete.

Ackerman opened her WOU career on the cross country course during the Ash Creek Collegiate running to a time of 16:03.4 to come in 37^th.

Cantu is set to run on the course for the first time this year. During the 2019 season she came in 11^th during the Ash Creek Invitational, 34^th at the GNAC Championships and 51^st at the NCAA West Regional.

Chapman already has a couple of races under her belt this year after starting her collegiate career with a runner-up finish at the Linfield Harrier Classic with a time of 16:14.5. She posted an even better time at the Ash Creek Collegiate running to a time of 15:36.6 to come in 28^th.

Garcia certainly made a strong statement in her first appearance as a member of the Wolves when she won the Ash Creek Collegiate with a time of 13:59.3. This wasn't the first time Garcia had run on Ash Creek Preserve, having run for Cal Poly Pomona during the 2019 West Regional in Monmouth.

Heldt also had a strong showing in her first cross country meet as a member of the Wolves. After coming off of a strong outdoor season, Heldt was runner-up to Garcia with a time of 14:08.7 during the Ash Creek Collegiate. That was the first event Heldt had competed in since placing second at the GNAC Outdoor Championships in the 10k.

Johnson began her collegiate career at the Linfield Harrier Classic when she posted a time of 17:15.5 to come in ninth.

Kruse ran her first collegiate meet during the Ash Creek Collegiate and posted a time of 16:11.5 to come in 45^th.

Larson ran in the first two meets this cross country season, coming in 14^th at the Linfield Harrier Classic and then trimmed over a minute off her time during the Ash Creek Collegiate crossing at 15:55.2 to come in 31^st.

Leamy competed in the first meet of the year running at the Linfield Harrier Classic coming in 13^th. That was her first event since competing in the 3,000-meter steeplechase during the GNAC Outdoor Championships.

Moore opened her collegiate career running at the Linfield Harrier Classic coming in 12^th. She trimmed over a minute off her time at the Ash Creek Collegiate coming in at 16:08.0 to place 39^th.

Smith also began her collegiate cross country career at the Linfield Harrier Classic coming in 17^th. During the Ash Creek Collegiate, she also almost improved by a minute coming in at 16:53.2 to come in 65^th.

On the men's side, Talon Aguilar, Keanu Daos, Cedar Davis-Frankfort, Chase Eckenfels, Aero Franklin, Emmett Klus, Dominic Manzo, Jaden McCabe, Dustyn Mckenney, Bryce Mefford, Easton Pomrankey, Timothy Rambo, Keeton Sanchez, Matthew Schenk, Bailey Smith, Wyatt Smith and Miguel Villar are set to compete.

Aguilar opened his WOU cross country career at the Ash Creek Collegiate posting a time of 20:44.8 to come in 60^th. That was his first event since competing in the WOU Pop Up during the outdoor track season.

Daos started his WOU cross country career strong when he won the Ash Creek Collegiate with a time of 18:22.1. This was his first event since competing in both the 5k and the 3,000-meter steeplechase during the GNAC Outdoor Championships.

Davis-Frankfort put together a strong first cross country race as a member of the Wolves when he came in 26^th with a time of 19:35.0. It was his first event since running the 10k at the GNAC Outdoor Championships.

Eckenfels began his collegiate career at the Ash Creek Collegiate when he posted a time of 21:04.2 to come in 67^th.

Franklin will compete in his first meet as a member of the Wolves this week. Franklin was part of the outdoor track and field team this past spring and competed at Bandon High School.

Klus will run in his first cross country meet this week after competing during the 2019 season. That year he placed 68^th in the Sundowner and 54^th at the GNAC Championships, along with running in the NCAA West Regional. This will be his first event since running the 800 at the GNAC Outdoor Championships.

Manzo will begin his collegiate career this week. He played his prep career at Tahoma High School in Maple Valley, Wash.

McCabe started his collegiate career at the Ash Creek Collegiate when he posted a time of 20:10.7 to come in 41^st.

Mckenney will begin his cross country career at WOU this week. The last event he competed in was the 800 during the GNAC Outdoor Championships.

Mefford posted a solid time during the Ash Creek Collegiate when he came in 29^th with a time of 19:38.2. That was his first event since running the 800 at the Titan Invitational.

Pomrankey began his collegiate career with a strong showing when he posted a time of 19:18.1 to come in 14^th at the Ash Creek Collegiate.

Rambo began his WOU cross country career with an impressive run at the Ash Creek Collegiate when he grabbed a time of 19:02.6 to come in seventh. That was his first event since running both the 800 and 1,500 during the GNAC Outdoor Championships.

Sanchez began his collegiate career at the Ash Creek Collegiate posting a time of 19:57.3 to come in 35^th.

Schenk will begin his collegiate cross country career this week. He competed in several of the outdoor track and field meets this past spring, with his last event being the 800 during the WOU Pop Up.

Bailey Smith will begin his WOU cross country career this week. He posted solid numbers throughout the past outdoor season, with his last event being both the 5k and 3,000-meter steeplechase during the GNAC Outdoor Championships.

Wyatt Smith opened his WOU cross country career during the Ash Creek Collegiate when he posted a time of 20:28.3 to come in 51^st.

Villar will begin his WOU cross country career this week. He competed in a couple of the track and field meets this past spring, with his last event being the 5k during the GNAC Outdoor Championships.

Fans are allowed to attend and make sure to wear a mask. The women's race will start at 5 p.m., followed by the men's race at 5:45 p.m. Live results will also be available for the race and can be found here.