Amanda Phillips and Tamma Carleton finished one-two at the season-opening Western Oregon Invitational in Monmouth, Ore. Friday evening. It was the first ever Collegiate cross country race victory for Phillips. The women finished third (complete results). The men had four runners finish in the top half, placing fourth as a team (complete results).

The women, running a 5k race, had two Pioneers in the front of the pack. Amanda Phillips (senior, Phoenix, Ore.) managed to hold off teammate Tamma Carleton (junior, Elk, Calif) to win the race with a time of 18:44. Carleton finished with a 18:51. Kitty Smith (junior, Malibu, Calif.) also finished in the top 50%, posting a 21:30.0. The team placed third overall.

For the men, Richie LeDonne (freshman, Narbath, Penn.), running in his first collegiate race, paced the Pioneers, finishing with a 26:40.0, 17th overall. Paul Mandsager (senior, Anchorage, Alaska) was the second finisher for the Pioneers, running a PR of 26:58.0, placing 20th. Also finishing in the top-25 were David Berman (junior, Scottsdale, Ariz.) with a 27:16.0 and first-year Pioneer Lars Steier (sophomore, Temple Terrace, Fla.).

The Western Oregon meet was also the head coaching debut for Keith Woodard. Woodard, who has served as an assistant cross country coach for the past several season, has taken over the head coaching duties for the cross country team this season.

"What an impressive start to the season by Amanda and Tamma," said Woodard. "The team ran well behind them and showed potential to move forward as the season progresses. It will be interesting to see how we do when we are able to get our first year runners to the starting line."

"We ran well today with a nice blend of newcomers and returners stepping up," said Woodard in regard to the men's performance. "When some of the others on the team get their running legs under them we should be very competitive and balanced. It will be fun to watch this team develop."

The Pioneers head to the home course next week for the Lewis & Clark Invitational at Milo McIver Park in Estacada. Check the website for post race results and recaps.

Click on the photo below to see a web gallery from the event.