Area cross-country teams ran their last regular season meets last week, as runners clock key times in preparation of league championships.
In Class 3A Pleasant Hill and Class 5A Springfield and Thurston competed in the Umpqua Invite last Wednesday. On the girls side, Thurston won first overall and Springfield was second. Pleasant Hill finished ninth. Nathalie Parker led the Colts by placing 8th overall (19:33). Evie Woodward placed 20th (21:18.70). Representing the Millers was Bella Wells, who placed sixth overall (19:19). Following her was Ellen Auxier in ninth (20:02). Finally, Amaya Thornton finished 16th (21:02). Nellie Smith led the Billies finishing 23rd overall (21:22).
On the boys’ side, the Colts placed fourth overall and the Billies seventh. Carson Buergey led the way for the Colts, finishing second overall and recording the second-fastest course time in history at 15:11. The previous 12-year course record of 15:20 by South Eugene’s Reilly Bloomer in 2013 was sliced by Sheldon’s Malachi Schoenherr, who finished first at 15:00. Following Buergey for the Colts was Owen Smith who placed 10th overall (16:14). Despite not having the bodies to place as a team, there were standout performances from the Millers, most notably Adrian Estes who finished 6th overall at 15:54. Following was Brytan Kelly placing 21st at 17:08. Lastly, Kaden Seaton led the Billies, finishing 23rd overall at 17:11.
The Thurston girls and boys teams made significant strides at Umpqua Invite and are in prime postion for the Midwestern League Championships; Carson Buergey once again etched in a historic win. ALL PHOTOS PROVIDED
In Class 4A, Cottage Grove ran The Run for Brownies race last week. The boys won second and the girls took first. The pack of Remington Sharkey (9:40.02), Jennings Albrecht (9:41.71), David Culbert (9:46.95) and Micah Hanke (9:48.15) once again finished together, placing fifth through eighth. Ella Cardwell and Carly Knutson finished the race together in first and second with times of 10:59 and 11:28, respectively.
