SALEM, Ore.—Junior Talia Tomhave and sophomore Eva Marley-Jester led women's cross country on Saturday in their final tune-up before the Northwest Conference Championship Meet.  
 
THE BASICS 
 
Women's Cross Country – 27^th out of 29 Teams – 744 Points 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED 
 
The River Otters got their first look at the NWC Championship Course when they competed at the George Ojai Invitational. 
 
As a team, Lewis & Clark placed eighth out of nine conference schools. The River Otters are hoping to have several runners who missed Saturday's meet back for the NWC Championship in two weeks. 
 
Tomhave paced the team for the first time in her collegiate career. The junior finished the 6K course in 24:29.2 to place 164^th overall. 
 
Marley-Jester came in just behind Tomhave to place second on the team. The sophomore notched a time of 24:33.8 to place 169^th. 
 
First year Zoe Benton notched a career-best 6K time. She recorded a time of 25:03.4 to place third on the team and 203^rd overall. 
 
Sophomore Katherine Scannell added a PR time of her own. Scannell crossed the line in 26:10.6 to finish 247^th. 
 
Senior Nadia Cota placed fifth on the team and registered a new season-best time. Cota placed 262^nd overall with a time of 26:39.7. 
 
BY THE NUMBERS 

• Benton improved her PR time by 17.8 seconds.
• Scannell shaved off 45.0 seconds off her previous career-best 6K time. 
• Cota broke 27-minutes in the 6K for the first time this season. She knocked off 68.5 seconds off her previous-best time this season. 
• Lewis & Clark edged NWC school Willamette by 25 points in the team standings. 

WHAT'S NEXT 
 
Lewis & Clark will return to Salem for the NWC Championship Meet on Saturday, October 31. The women's race will begin at 10 a.m.