Springfield, Ore.- The California cross country teams took on 12 top-30 ranked teams today at the Pac-12 Championship meet in Springfield, Ore. The women placed fifth overall in the championship meet and the men finished the meet in seventh.
 
For the women, California bettered their 2016 finish, placing 5th overall in today's Pac-12 Championship meet.  The Bears were led by senior Bethan Knights and freshman Brie Oakley, who stayed within the top 15 runners throughout the entire 6000 meter course. Knights finished in 10th place, while Oakley placed 12th. California was one of only four teams (Colorado, Stanford and Oregon) to have two runners finish in the top 12 overall.
 
Knights and Oakley began the race strong, running in fourth and 14th place at the race's first split. Both runners surged through the second split, moving up to second and ninth overall. California's top two runners stayed strong throughout the whole race, holding on tight to the leaders at the third and fourth splits and finishing slightly more than a second apart.
 
Knights, who placed 7th in last years' meet, outran her 2016 time (20:34.3) by over a minute, placing 10th and finishing the 6k in in 19:13.4. Oakley, running in her first-ever Pac-12 championship, was the second-fastest freshman as she crossed the line in 19:14.7, second to redshirt-freshman Lilli Burdon from Oregon. 
 
The Bears third finisher was Marissa Williams, only running in her second meet of the season due to injury and beating her 2016 Pac-12 finish (21:31.5) by almost two minutes (19:30.4). Williams placed 21st overall, with Jordyn Colter (45th, 20:11.0) and Marissa Dobry (51st, 20:18.6) completed California's scoring runners. Annie Boos (55th, 20:24.1), Chloe Hansel (58^th, 20:31.3), Ariane Ardnt (83th, 21:05.5), Skyler Flora (87^th, 21:13.5) and Lochryn Howe (102^nd, 22:32.9) rounded out Cal's squad.
 
"I'm very happy about the progress the teams made today at the PAC-12 Championships," Head Coach Shayla Houlihan said. "The women ran a really strong race for a fifth-place finish. Marissa Williams was a huge factor for us today. She remained strong the whole race and moved up a ton over the last 1,000-2,000 meters in signature fashion."
 
The women's squad defeated their eighth ranked team of the season as they topped no. 27 Utah.
 
For the men, California placed seventh overall in a field, which included six top-30 nationally ranked teams (No. 5 Colorado, No. 6 Stanford, No. 8 Oregon, No. 14 UCLA, No. 20 Washington State and No. 21 Washington).
 
The men were led through the first three race splits by senior Garrett Corcoran, who hit his stride as he sat in second place at about the halfway mark. He stayed within the top five for much of the race before dropping a couple places. Corcoran was the Bears' top finisher at 13th overall (24:07.1).
 
Senior Trent Brendel grew stronger as the race continued, gaining position throughout the race, as he finished 17th overall (24:10.0), which matched his finish at last year's championship.
 
California's scoring runners were rounded out by a 38th place finish from Paul Zeiss (24:33.6), a 53rd place finish from Takeshi Okada (24:54.0), and 54th place finish from John Hogan (24:58.2). The Bears also ran freshman Steven Khan (25:43.7), who finished 70th overall and Max Leach (74th, 26:07.1).
 
"The men did a nice job of practicing the way we will run at Regionals at the 10k distance," Houlihan said. "Garrett Corcoran ran with some of the best runners in the country and had a breakthrough race. We're walking away feeling really happy and positive about the coming meets ahead."
 
The Bears now have two weeks to prepare for the NCAA West Regional Championship meet, which will determine the eight teams from the west to compete in the NCAA National Championship meet.
 
Keep updated on all things California cross country by following the team on Twitter (@CalTFXC), Instagram (@CalTFXC) and on Facebook (CalTFXC). 
 
 
 
Women
Team Finish
5th- California- 132 (10-12-21-43-46-50-53)
 
Individual Finishers
Bethan Knights- 10th (19:13.4)
Brie Oakley- 12th (19:14.7)
Marissa Williams- 21st (19:30.4)
Jordyn Colter- 45th (20:11.0)
Marissa Dobry- 51st (20:18.6)
Annie Boos- 55th (20:24.1)
Chloe Hansel- 58th (20:31.3)
Ariane Ardnt- 83th (21:05.5)
Skyler Flora- 87th (21:13.5)
Lochryn Howe- 102nd (22:32.9)
 
 
Men
Team Finish
7th- California- 158 (13-17-37-45-46-53-56)
 
Individual Finishers
Garrett Corcoran- 13th (24:07.1)
Trent Brendel- 17th (24:10.0)
Paul Zeiss- 38th (24:33.6)
Takeshi Okada- 53rd (24:54.0)
John Hogan- 54th (24:58.2)
Steven Khan- 70th (25:43.7)
Max Leach- 74th (26:07.1)