Eastern's Carter Ledwith gets win at Idaho Orchards Cross Country Invitational...

LEWISTON, Idaho--In the delayed 2020-21 cross country season opener for both Eastern Washington and Washington State, Carter Ledwith (photo courtesy EWU Athletics) was the bright spot at the Idaho Orchards Cross Country Invitational Saturday hosted by the University of Idaho.

Ledwith won the men's 8,000-meter race with a time of 25:08. He was victorious by five seconds over Montana's Joel Mendez, who had a time of 25:13.

Behind Ledwith were Ethan Green in 13th (26:02); Alec Kness in 18th (26:33); Jamie Christner in 22nd (27:22); and Drew Whited in 23rd (27:26).

Montana won the men's team title with 27, followed by Idaho at 47 & the Eagles third with 60 points.

"Carter got his first collegiate win," said Eastern cross country coach Sam Read. "He ran an impressive race, making a strong move at the toughest part of the race. That move takes a lot of guts and belief."

In the women's 5000 meter race, Washington State's Neema Kimtai led the Cougars to a second place team finish with her second place finish in 17:01.

Behind Kimtai were Erin Mullins in 4th (17:12); Alaina Stone-Boggs in 9th (17:35); Caroline Jerotich in 11th (17:50), and Zorana Grujic in 12th (17:55).

Eastern Washington was led by Kaylin Sheley, who finished 19th in 18:30. Jenni Bissell (21st, 18:32), Megan Pitzman (24th, 18:43), Anna Harrison (27th, 18:53), and Maddie Drennen (28th, 18:58) were the other Eagle scorers.

Idaho won the team title with 31, over the Cougars with 38. Montana was third with 58, followed by Eastern Washington at 108.

Eastern Washington will not race until the Big Sky conference meet on February 27th in Riverdale, Utah, while Washington State is scheduled to run at either the Battle Born Collegiate Challenge in Las Vegas or the Lane CC Invitational in Eugene on February 19th.

Eastern Washington's release is available here, while results of the meet are available here.

CUNLIFFE SISTERS, GRUVER & FELDMEIER SET FOR SUNDAY'S ATL MEET IN ARKANSAS...

Sisters Hannah and Chloe Cunliffe, along with Washington alum Olivia Gruver and Olympia native Brooke Feldmeier are entered in Sunday's American Track League meet at the Randal Tyson Track Center on the campus of the University of Arkansas.

Hannah is entered in both the 60 and 200 meter dashes, while younger sister Chloe is entered in the pole vault.

Washington alum and outdoor collegiate record holder Olivia Gruver is also entered, as she's fresh off a victory and Dempsey Indoor facility record, as she cleared 15-3.75 (4.67m) last week.

Olympia native and Oregon alum Brooke Feldmeier, who hasn't raced since last year's USA Indoor championships, will make her season debut in the women's 800.

ESPN will televise the meet from 130-330pm, Pacific time.

The start list for week 3 of the American Track League series is available here.

EFRAIMSON FINISHES SEVENTH IN FIRST RACE SINCE SHOULDER SURGERY...

Competing at an undisclosed location in the greater Phoenix area, Camas native Alexa Efraimson finished seventh in an extremely competitive women's 800 meter race at the Prickly Pear Invitational, hosted by the Portland-based Nike Bowerman Track Club.

The Bowerman group has been in Arizona training at altitude in Flagstaff before coming down to the Phoenix area to conduct a race at a local track.

Efraimson, who is now working with former Washington State distance coach Pete Julian and his pro group at the Nike campus in Beaverton after undergoing shoulder surgery in June, ran 2:05.09 in her first race since finishing third in the 1500 meters at the 2019 Pan Am Games in Lima, Peru.

Oklahoma State alum Sinclaire Johnson of the Bowerman TC won the race in 2:01.70, leading two others across the line to US Olympic Trials qualifying marks.

Former UW volunteer coach Amos Bartelsmeyer, who joined the Bowerman TC at the end of last year, finished second in the men's 800 in 1:49.24, as Bowerman teammate Josh Thompson took the win in 1:49.15.

Complete results of the Prickly Pear Invitational are available here.

NOTE: The sports information offices of the University of Idaho, Eastern Washington, & Washington State, and the American Track League contributed to this report.

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