MONMOUTH, Ore. – Two races in and two wins so far for Luz Garcia. After picking up the 4k win two weeks ago during the Ash Creek Collegiate, Garcia added a little more distance to her win this time, but still came in first during the women's 6k at the Mike Johnson Classic on Friday. Overall, both of the Western Oregon University men's and women's cross country teams came in fifth.

On the women's side, Garcia paced the Wolves to their fifth-place finish coming in first with a time of 21:46.4. Garcia continued to climb the ranks throughout the race, moving from fifth to third and then making a move over the final 1k into first to take the title. She ran an average mile time of 5:51.

WOU collected 150 points to come in fifth, while fellow GNAC school Simon Fraser took the team title with 30 points, thanks to four placers in the top-nine. Eastern Washington was second (78), followed by Portland State (113) and Cal State East Bay (129) just ahead of the Wolves. Overall, 13 teams competed in the women's 6k as another GNAC school in Alaska Fairbanks ran in the meet coming in seventh with 164 points.

Caitlin Heldt nearly gave the Wolves two in the top-10 as she crossed in 11^th with a time of 22:37.6. Kaylin Cantu, running in her first meet of the season, was the next one in for WOU coming in with a time of 24:54.3 to come in 52^nd. Katie Chapman was right behind in 58^th with a time of 25:10.2. Lindie Larson and Emily Moore finished right together with Larson coming in 66^th with a time of 25:33.3 and Moore in 67^th with a time of 25:42.3. Kaiya Leamy, Kaitlyn Kruse and Shannon Smith rounded out the results for the Wolves with Leamy coming in 105^th, Kruse in 108^th and Smith in 113^th.

In the men's 8k, Miguel Villar put together a strong first cross country race as a member of the Wolves as he was the first one in from WOU crossing in 18^th with a time of 25:53.1. Villar ran an average mile time of 5:13. Just about a minute later, the Wolves had a whole pack set to cross led by Emmett Klus running in his first cross country meet of the season coming in 40^th with a time of 26:55.6. Bryce Mefford was right behind in 42^nd with a time of 26:56.5. Bailey Smith was just a few spots back of that group running in his first cross country meet as a member of the Wolves coming in 44^th with a time of 27:04.3. Dustyn Mckenney gave WOU five placers within the top-50 when he crossed in 49^th with a time of 27:11.1 in his first meet of the year. Keeton Sanchez was just outside of the top-50 coming in 54^th with a time of 27:22.3. Easton Pomrankey crossed in 64^th with a time of 27:40.2. Cedar Davis-Frankfort and Jordan Kemper were just a few spots apart with Davis-Frankfort in 90^th and Kemper in 94^th. Matthew Schenk came in 101^st, Jaden McCabe in 104th, Chase Eckenfels in 116^th and Aero Franklin in 118^th. It was the first meet of the season for Kemper, Schenk and Franklin.

Overall, WOU came in fifth on the men's side with 154 points to hold off Pacific's 165 points. Portland claimed the top spot with 26 points, beating out GNAC school Simon Fraser's 47 points. Eastern Washington came in third (69) and Cal State East Bay was just ahead of the Wolves in fourth (151). Fellow GNAC school Alaska Fairbanks came in 12^th with 356 points. Overall, 14 teams entered the men's race.

With the first two home meets now in the books, WOU will prepare to travel for the first time this fall season when they will compete in the Lewis Crossover on Oct. 9 in Romeoville, Illinois.