TACOMA, Wash. – Cian Monaghan was 13th in the men's race, and Emily Moore took 19th on the women's side, leading their respective Puget Sound cross country teams on Saturday at the PLU Invitational.
 
Moore, who completed her 6 kilometers on the PLU Cross Country Course in 23 minutes, 47.6 seconds, helped the Loggers women place fourth in the team standings with 133 points. George Fox, the Northwest Conference preseason favorite, won with 58.
 
All five Loggers scores finished within 51 seconds of each other, and the Nos. 2 through 5 runners were within nine places. Samantha Palm was 31st in 24:06.5, followed by Lydia Cocciolone 34th in 24:13.6, Erin Schmidlin 38th in 24:34.7, and Ella Courtnage-Dyke 40th in 24:38.1.
 
Alauna Carstens of Evergreen State won in 21:19.9.
 
Moore moved up seven places from last year's 26th-place PLU finish. The sophomore already has a win to her credit this season, having crossed the line first at the season-opening Puget Sound Invite on Aug. 30.
 
Monaghan completed the men's 8K race in 26:13.1, leading UPS to sixth in the team standings with 204. George Fox, a slight favorite in the NWC preseason poll, won with 63, well ahead of second-place Whitworth and Lewis & Clark's 103 (Whitworth got second place on the tiebreaker).
 
Fellow sophomore Emerson Ingraham followed Monaghan across the line in 41st place, clocking 27:11.0. Rounding out the top five scorers were Noah Larsen (67th in 28:17.8). Noah Brown (78th in 28:29.7) and Tdohasan Sunray (99th in 29:04.1).
 
London Haley of Whitworth was Saturday's winner in 24:54.6.
 
Monaghan, who also was 13th in last year's PLU Invite, won the men's race at the Puget Sound Invite three weeks ago.
 
Saturday's meet was essentially an NWC preview, as all nine schools were entered in both races. The conference meet will be on this same course and is set for Saturday, Nov. 1.
 
Coach's Thoughts
"I'm really happy with the effort our athletes showed today," said Logger head coach Lisa Kushiyama. "This was a very competitive race, and it was great to see how we stack up with the rest of the conference this early in the season."

What Happens Next
The Loggers head to Walla Walla on Saturday, Oct. 4, for the Whitman Open. Races at Veterans Memorial Golf Couse are set for 11:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.