George Fox’s Emily Foote breaks 34-year old program record

PORTLAND, Ore. (GFU Athletics) — The George Fox cross country team had a good day running in the George Oja Invitational, with Emily Foote smashing a program record en route to a fourth-place finish for the women and the men placing fourth as well.

Senior Emily Foote continued to impress, setting the tone with a blistering time of 20:49.50 in the 6000m run. The graduate transfer from Oregon State started out of the gates quickly — a move that head coach Mike Wilson said was intentional — and it paid off. Foote’s time was not only a 40-second personal best, not only the best time in the NWC in 2025, but breaks a 34 year old school record; the previous program record for the 6k was 20:53.0, set by Jill Beals in 1991.

Not to be outdone, Hope Bridge was just under a minute behind Foote in 25th place, finishing with a time of 21:40.70 — a 20-second personal best. Chloe Cook was next with a time of 22:18.20, while Ree Borchert was ten seconds following her, with 22:28.50. 

Sara Marino, Marcella Leita, and Natalie Oathout kept under 23 minutes, making the top 80 — Marino (22:33.00), Leita (22:36.00), and Oathout (22:44.60). Each of the women achieved PRs for the day; all in all, nine women ran under 23 minutes.

In the Men’s 8000m, the first Bruin to cross the finish line was Caden Hildenbrand at a time of 4:45.70 in 35th place. Jefferson Smith was on his toes, coming in with a 24:53.80 time, with Kellin Ruiz and Ryan Lippert finishing together with times of 4:59.10. 

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