ISSAQUAH, Wash. (Oct. 20) -- Rachel Ross returned following a three-week absence to finish 11th overall and lead the Seattle Pacific University women's cross country team to a third-place finish at the final regular season meet, the Northwest College Invitational, Saturday afternoon at Lake Sammamish State Park.

Nathanael Castle (Jr., Gooding, Id.) of SPU continued to his strong season for the men, taking seventh in the 8000-meter event in 25 minutes, 3 seconds. Warner Pacific's Chris Clancy was the winner in 24:47.

Ross (Sr., Kennewick, Wa.), who missed last week's Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships and another meet due to a strained hamstring, ran side-by-side with teammate Jamie Witt (So., Folsom, Ca.), who was 12th. Both were timed in 18:25 for 5000 meters. former Central Washington runner Sarah Forrey edged her twin sister Amy for first in 17:56.

The Falcons finished one point behind Western Washington, 89-90, for third place. Northwest College took top honors with 30 points. In the men's team standings, Eastern Oregon won with 26 points.

Seattle Pacific will resume action Nov. 3 at the NCAA Division II West Regional in Bellingham.

Women's Team Scores (5000 meters):
1-Northwest College 30; 2-Western Washington 89; 3-Seattle Pacific 90; 5-Lewis-Clark State 97; 5-Central Washington 127; 6-Southern Oregon 139; 7-Seattle University 170; 8-Eastern Oregon 192; 9-Saint Martins 278; 10-Bellevue CC 291; 11-Skagit Valley CC 321.

Women's Individual Results:
1-Sarah Forrey, unat., 17:51; 2-Amy Forrey, unat., 17:56; 3-Crystal Evans, NWC, 17:58; 4-Kim Stone, NWC, 18:00; 5-Kelly Fullerton, SU, 18:06. Also: 11-rachel Ross, SPU, 18:25; 12-Jamie Witt, SPU, 18:25; 19-Dana Cantrell, SPU, 18:46; 32-Candy Owens, SPU, 19:05; 34-Kirsten Bjork, SPU, 19:12; 36-Josie Lavin, SPU, 19:16; 48-Sarah Kraybill, SPU, 19:32; 52-Nicole Seana, SPU, 19:39; 66-Kara Richard, SPU, 19:56; 113-Acadia Giffey-Brohaugh, SPU, 22:26.

Men's Team Scores (8000 meters):
1-Eastern Oregon 26; 2-Central Washington 53; 2-Western Washington 81; 4-Seattle University 130; 5-Lewis-Clark State 153; 6-Saint Martin's 158; 7-Seattle Pacific 162; 8-Southern Oregon 185; 9-Cascade College 291; 10-evergreen 319; 11-everett CC 328; 12-Skagit Valley CC 344.

Men's Individual Results:
1-Chris Clancy, WPC, 24:27; 2-Phil Olson, NWC, 24:49; 3-Tom Gaschk, CWU, 24:49; 4-Eric Griffiths, EOU, 24:50; 5-Tim Riley, EOU, 24:51. Also: 7-Nathanael Castle, SPU, 25:03; 36-Neal Fryett, SPU, 26:24; 40-Zach Grice, SPU, 26:29; 54-Scott Van Hess, SPU,27:01; 58-Paul Mach, SPU, 27:16; 60-Aaron Libadisos, SPU, 27:19; 101-Clint Bjella, SPU, 28:58; DNF-Nick Glancy.