Boosted by a sudden increase in numbers, the Southwestern Oregon Community College cross country team is suddenly among the better programs in the NWAACC's South Region.

“I've got more kids on my cross country team this year than I had on the cross country and track team last year,” said Southwestern coach Dan Neal.

The Lakers boast 14 men and nine women in their program. On Saturday, both squads finished third - and in front of at least a few complete teams - in the Clark College Invitational at Battle Ground, Wash.

The insurgence of talent does not directly coincide with the new track at Southwestern because it wasn't completed until after the recruiting season for this fall. Instead, Neal got some help recruiting from his assistants and found success that will help both the cross country and track teams.

“We were able to contact a lot of kids and ended up with a lot of depth,” he said, adding the strength this fall will be strength next spring. “We've never had the distances and middle distances really covered like we'll be able to this year.”

That means, when Southwestern first hosts a meet on its own track, the Lakers will have someone to enter in the steeplechase, an event the Lakers never could practice before.

In the present, the Lakers also have strength in the longer distances.

On Saturday, Southwestern's men were paced by Matt Paez, a freshman from Hemet, Calif., who covered the 8,000-meter course in 27 minutes and 29 seconds to finish fourth overall. Western Oregon's Kim Hunt won the race in 26:41.

Southwestern's other placers Saturday included Kameron Ulmer, a freshman from San Bernadino, Calif., who was seventh (27:39); Peter Becker, a freshman from La Salle High School in Milwaukie, who finished 13th (28:41); Tad Jensen, a freshman from Marshfield who was 16th (29:25); and Tanner Gorman, a freshman from Brookings-Harbor who was 21st (29:48).

Other Lakers were Jared Moe, a sophomore from Montesano, Wash., who was 23rd (30:13); Payton Pawlek, a freshman from Elko, Nev., who was 24th (30:36); Travis Clark, a freshman from Yucaipa, Calif., who finished 27th (31:09); Carl Berensten, a freshman from Bremerton, Wash., who was 36th (32:35); Tyler Powers, a sophomore from Caldwell, Idaho, who was 37th (32:41); Darrin Parkhurst, a freshman from Marshfield who was 38th (32:47); and Monty Shehee, a freshman from Yucaipa, Calif., who was 41st in 33:28.

Southwestern finished with 55 points, placing behind Clark (43) and Mount Hood (53) and ahead of three other schools.

The Laker women also were third, with 73 points. Clark won with 27 and Mount Hood was second with 41.

Hollie Hart, a freshman from Highland, Calif., was the first Laker across the line in 14th place. Her time was 21:49 for the 5,000-meter course.

Kayla Gatchet, a freshman from South Albany High School, was 15th (21:48); Tracey Melgoza, a freshman from Highland, Calif., was 17th (22:04); Jessie Ward, a freshman from Priest River, Idaho, was 23rd (22:39); Christina Boat, a freshman from Myrtle Point, was 26th (23:15); Rebecca Reese, a freshman from Echo, was 29th (24:14); and Nichole Hines, a freshman from San Clemente, Calif., was 35th (26:39).

“I was very pleased with how we ran as a group,” Neal said.

The Lakers have a couple of other talented runners who weren't with the team at Washington.

“This is such a great group of kids,” Neal said. “They've been really a great group to work with.”

This weekend, the Lakers compete in the Mike Hodges Invitational at Clackamas.

After the South Region championships and the NWAACC meet, scheduled for Nov. 11, the Lakers can turn their focus toward the spring.

“When you combine this with track, we're looking at having 50 people in track,” Neal said. “That's huge. That's how you start (building a strong program).”