The Clark College men's and women's cross country teams continued their fall campaign Saturday at the Linfield George Oja Invitational, taking on one of the deepest collegiate fields of the season at Oak Knoll Golf Course in Independence, Oregon. Against a mix of NCAA Division I, II, III, and NWAC programs, the Penguin men placed 30th overall, and though the women didn't score, they showed grit and improvement throughout their lineup.

Freshman Dekota Houfek led the way for Clark, clocking 27:09.9 over the 8,000-meter course to finish as the Penguins' top runner. His steady pacing through the rolling back half of the course set the tone for the team's competitive effort against much larger programs.  Close behind, Clark's pack showed solid cohesion. The Penguins' next four scorers —  Tate Armstrong, Erik Hardy, Liam DeViney and Evan Hollis— finished within roughly a minute of each other, demonstrating growing consistency and depth within the group. Clark's spread of 1:35.6 from its first to fifth runner marked one of its tightest team gaps of the season.

Head coach Scott Cook praised the effort, noting the team's focus on running together and attacking the middle portion of the race. "We're learning to compete in crowded fields and keep our rhythm," he said. "Our guys showed a lot of toughness today."

On the women's side, Nico Field was the team's top finisher for the first time in her career and also earned a personal best time of 28:48 for the 6K distance. Mariposa Perez was less than a minute behind Field as the team's number two runner.

Cook was also happy with the women's performance. "We're giving our very best every time we get out there," he stated. "We've got to improve to get where we want to be, but I can't be anything but happy with the way Nico and Mari competed."

The meet featured powerhouse programs such as Eastern Washington, the University of Portland, and Eastern Oregon among the top finishers, making it one of the most competitive stages Clark has faced this fall.  The Penguins now turn their attention toward championship season, where the experience gained at Oak Knoll will pay dividends in tactical racing and confidence.

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