HONOLULU--  The University of Hawai'i cross country team will go back on the road this week for the Charles Bowles Invitational put on by Willamette University in Salem, Oregon.
 
The Rainbow Wahine will be tested again as the Charles Bowles Invitational is marked yearly as the biggest northwest cross country meet featuring some of the best possible competition, ranging over several conferences. A season ago, the 'Bows placed fifth overall with 126 points. Senior Sophia Morgan paced the 'Bows last year as a junior, finishing fourth with a time of 18:22. Traditionally, the meet and the 5k course lead to impressive numbers for UH. Four of the program's top five times all-time have come from this course, including Cheryl Smith's program-best mark of 15:56.33 set back on October 6th, 2011.
 
Senior Caelan Miller, the front runner for the 'Bows this season, led the way in the previous two races of 2022. Morgan hasn't paced far behind, competing with Miller for the top spot on the squad.
 
"I'm encouraged by where we are in our training," said head coach Tim Boyce. "Everyone is working together to improve, and this meet always seems to play into our strengths, giving us a positive boost."
 
Boyce is very familiar with the location and course as from 1998 to 1999, Boyce was an assistant coach for the Bearcats under the current Seattle University head coach Kelly Sullivan. Since coming to UH in 2014, Boyce has kept the meet on the schedule, paying a visit to an area he has fond memories of from the early days in his career.
 
"I enjoy the trip," said Boyce. "It reminds me of a different point in my career and where I eventually wanted to end up in our profession. It's fun to make the trip every year, and our team always enjoys competing and seeing the northwest in the early fall."
 
The women's 5k will start shortly after the men's 8K at approximately 10:20 a.m. PT.