SALEM, Ore. – Saundra Parsons made an immediate impact in her Oregon Tech debut, placing 51st overall, pacing the Lady Owls at the Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational at Bush's Pasture Park.
 
The junior transfer helped OIT finish 12th overall among 28 teams – but fourth among non-NCAA Division I clubs.
 
"It was a huge day for our team," said head coach Mike Anderson. "We raced great and were just fast."
 
Parsons finished with a time of 18:33, just ahead of junior Charis Childers (18:42), who placed 60th, over the 5,000-meter circuit.
 
OIT ended the meet with 376 place-points, just behind rivals Eastern Oregon (301) and Southern Oregon (351).
 
Chloe Crawford (19:04) took 85th, Corinne Childers (19:22) was 102nd and Aubrey Strang (19:56) placed 132nd to round out the OIT scorers.
 
The Lady Owls return to action in two weeks at the George Oja Invite.