Creswell girls cross country runners McKenzie Traetow number 236 and Emily Garcia number 234 compete in the Harrier Challenge on Saturday, Sept. 15 in Cottage Grove. TOM PAGE/FOR THE CHRONICLE
Sophomore Brandon Moehlmann was the top finisher of Creswell High’s youthful boys’ cross country team – comprised of sophomores and freshmen – during the Silver Falls Oktoberfest Invitational, held at Silver Falls State Park on Sept. 11.
Moehlmann placed 52nd out of 139 runners in the 5,000-meter boys’ varsity race with a time of 20:20.4. Hot on his heels was fellow sophomore Josiah Lee, who placed 53rd in 20:22.5. Sophomore Seth Handman was 81st in 21:28.2, sophomore Jackson Velarde was 103rd in 22:47.9 and freshman Chance Hemenway was 120th in 24:11.7.
The Bulldogs finished 15th in team standings.
Creswell fielded an incomplete girls’ team, with just two runners. Senior Emily Garcia finished 79th in 31:35.5 and senior McKenzie Traetow was 81st in 32:15.2.
The Bulldogs also competed in the annual Harrier’s Challenge 5k, held at Schwarz Park in Cottage Grove on Sept. 15.
Moehlmann again paced the Bulldog pack, placing 22nd in 20:51. Lee placed 37th in 22:09, Handman placed 38th in 22:13, Velarde finished 42nd in 22:31, Hemenway was 51st in 24:16 and freshman Gonzalo Cardenas was 62nd in 40:49.
The Dawgs placed eighth in team standings.
For the Creswell girls, Traetow finished 33rd in 33:33 and Garcia was 34th in 34:04.
On Saturday, the Bulldogs, coached by Jonathan Ferguson, will run at the annual Rock ‘n’ River 5k at Elijah Bristow State Park.