As the short cross-country season winds down for Sweet Home, the Huskies will find out Saturday where they stand in relation to the rest of the league, particularly Sisters, which has not run in any races that have included fellow Oregon West Teams.
At Cascade Friday, March 26, the Huskies finished second to Philomath (16 points) on the boys side with 60 points, followed by Woodburn with 70 and Cascade (103).
Philomath put its top six runners in the top eight, sweeping the top four spots, led by sophomores Brody Bushnell (17:23) and Bateo Candanoza (17:24). Angel Marquez of Woodburn placed fourth (17:56) to prevent the Warriors from posting a perfect 15 score.
Junior Nate Coleman led Sweet Home in ninth place (18:42), followed by Gavin Walberg in 12th (18:53), Ethan Hurst in 14th (19:20) and Treyson Smith in 15th (19:25) and Jorel Leyba rounding out the scoring for the Huskies with an 18th-place finish (20:00).
Aiden Shamek finished 20th in 21:01, and Trace Marler was 25th (22:44).
“I think it went pretty well,” Coach Kambria Schumacher said. “Gavin and Jorel raced pretty well. They’ve been struggling a little bit, so it was great to see them have a good race.
“Nate has been very consistent this year. He did quite a bit of mileage before the season and it’s really helping.”
For Sweet Home’s girls, Jessy Hart was third overall in a field of 14 runners. Only Philomath had the five runners necessary to score as Sweet Home was short one runner.
Philomath’s Ingrid Hellesto ran 20:33 for first, followed by Kaeleigh Houchin of the Warriors (21:49), and Hart in 22:22.
Also finishing for Sweet Home was Sicily Neushcwander in eighth (24:53), Meeja Bitter in 11th (28:53), and Summer Hicks 12th (28:57).
Both Sisters and Philomath are shaping up to be state powers on the boys side this year, but Schumacher said she’s hoping Hart can qualify for the state meet, scheduled for April 10 at Tillamook.
The Huskies will host the district meet this Saturday, April 3, at Community Chapel.
“Jessy ran well (at Cascade),” Schumacher said. “I know she can beat the girls ahead of her. Being on her home course will be an advantage.”
The girls will start things off at 10 a.m., followed by the boys at 10:45 a.m. Volunteers are needed. For more information, contact Schumacher at (541) 990-9477.