Cross Country | 9/28/2016 10:08:00 AM

ELLENSBURG, Wash.- The Central Washington University cross country team gears up for the 42nd Annual Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational this Saturday. The event will be held at Bush's Pasture Park in Salem, Ore. and is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m.
 
"I'm definitely looking forward to this meet," CWU head coach Kevin Adkisson said. "It is on a faster course and there are always a lot of people competing. It is always a really nice test for us. Our runners competing this weekend were able to have a really good training week last week and were able to rest this past weekend. With two weeks of preparation, I am hoping that they have been able to take that next step forward and race at a new level at this meet. I am really excited to see what they can do."
 
The majority of the athletes competing on Saturday took last weekend off to rest and prepare for this Saturday's meet. The team competed well at the UW Sundodger Invitational a couple weeks ago. Both the men and the women's squad captured 11th overall, and the women's team were the fourth highest scoring GNAC team behind Simon Fraser, Alaska Anchorage and Western Washington. Both teams will have another chance to measure up against GNAC opponents at Willamette University.
 
Sophomore Tyler Humphries will lead the men's side as he looks to continue to improve with every passing meet. At the UW Sundodger Invitational, Humphries finished first the Wildcats and 67th overall. Accompanying Humphries at the front of the pack will be senior Nick Spencer and junior Josh Boston.
 
Leading the women's team and continuing her exceptional 2016 campaign will be senior Elena Gomez. Gomez has already tallied an event title at the CWU Invite and competed well in Seattle, placing 29th.
 
Race results and a full recap of Saturday's action will be posted on WildcatSports.com on Saturday evening. 
 
-CWU-