Harmon finishes as all-American.

Byline: From Register-Guard and news service reports

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - Oregon's Laura Harmon wrapped up her collegiate cross country career Monday with a career-best performance in the NCAA Cross Country Championships.

The Vancouver, Wash., native claimed all-America honors in her NCAA debut, finished 31st against the top 255 runners in the 6-kilometer race in a time of 21 minutes and 8 seconds.

`She stuck to the race plan and ran very intelligent, and much the same way as all season,' Oregon women's cross country coach Marnie Mason said.

`The impressive thing was how intelligently she competed in her first time at the national level, and wasn't shaken during the race.'

She recorded a halfway split of 10:32, and then improved to 38th with less than a mile remaining. In the final 400-meter stretch, she continued to pass runners to secure Oregon's 32nd female all-America honor since 1974.

`I passed probably 15 people the last kilometer, including six or seven girls in the final straight,' Harmon said. `It would have been less stressful to pick them off earlier, but this is such a big meet and people go out so hard early.'

Colorado won both the men's and women's titles.

Wisconsin's Simon Bairu won the men's individual championship with a time of 30:37.7 in the 10K race. Colorado placed three runners in the top 25.

Kim Smith of Providence took the women's individual title with a time of 20:08.5 and finished the season undefeated. Colorado's previously unbeaten Renee Metevier followed at 20:26.4.

UO's Barker loses

in wrestling classic

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - Oregon senior Scott Barker lost an 8-3 decision to Ohio State's J.D. Bergman in the 197-pound class Monday in the Marines All-Star Classic wrestling meet.

Bergman was the No. 3-rated wrestler in his class in preseason rankings.

NCC women fall

to Southwestern Oregon

Robin McMahon scored 17 points and Brittney Evans added 14 in Northwest Christian's 72-53 women's college basketball loss to Southwestern Oregon Community College at the Morse Events Center on Monday night.

Melissa Smith and Stacy Cordell had 10 points each for the Beacons. Sarah Hislop led SWOCC with 24 points and 13 rebounds.

Multnomah Bible

defeats Deacons, 76-71

PORTLAND - Multnomah Bible College had five players score in double figures en route to a 76-71 victory over Eugene Bible College in a men's college basketball game Monday night.

Mason Hutchison scored a season-high 28 for Eugene Bible (2-4) and T.C. Combs and Terrell Blanks added 13 and 12 points, respectively.

UO volleyball signs

West Linn standout

West Linn High's Alix Gombos, a first-team all-state choice at middle blocker and outside hitter, has signed a letter of intent to play volleyball at the University of Oregon, head coach Carl Ferreira announced Monday.

The 6-foot-1 Gombos was named among the "Fab 50" recruits in the class of 2005 by prepvolleyball.com.

Ducks, OSU land

all-academic honors

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. - Oregon and Oregon State landed one player each on this year's Pac-10 volleyball all-academic first and second teams announced by commissioner Tom Hansen on Monday.

Oregon sophomore Kristin Bitter made the first team with a grade-point average of 4.10. She has yet to declare a major. Joining her was Oregon State senior Allison Lawrence, a philosophy major with a 3.62 GPA. Named to the second team were Oregon's Katie O'Neil (3.59) and OSU's Amanda Eggert (3.50).

UO women sign

Washington golf champ

The reigning Washington state amateur champion, Blair Ressler of Bellingham, has signed a women's golf letter of intent with the University of Oregon, coach Shannon Rouillard announced recently.

Ressler, a left-hander, has won back-to-back Washington state 3A individual championships and has led Bellingham High School to three straight state team titles.

Team Eugene claims

cross country title

PORTLAND - Team Eugene bunched five runners within 16 seconds of one another to claim fourth through eighth place and win its third straight team title at the USA Northwest Regional Cross Country Championships at Pier Park on Sunday.

Team XO, another local running outfit, placed second behind overall winner Max King, who covered the hilly 8-kilometer course in 25 minutes, 14 seconds. Teammate Paul Kezes was second in 25:20.

Team Eugene won with 22 points, behind the fourth-place effort of Steve Laurie in 25:45.

CAPTION(S):

Laura Harmon picks up her pace during Monday's NCAA national meet in Terre Haute, Ind. Harmon finished 31st. REGIONAL ROUNDUP