The Husky boys varsity cross country team finished third in a meet at Summit High School in Bend, with varying performances from the members of the team.
At the front end, John Lovik finished fifth in 18:19.
“John just went out really hard,” Coach Wayne Spinney said. “He was in oxygen debt the first 800 to 1,000 meters.”
Once a runner is in oxygen debt, the runner must slow down, Coach Spinney said. The course challenged runners with its thinner air at a 3,500-foot elevation and terrain. The first-place time for the course was by Summit runner Kenyon Neuman at 17:25. He had just finished a tough 1-0 soccer game before running. A Woodburn runner followed him in six seconds later.
Following Lovik in was Chris Burford in 11th place at 19:32. Richard Westvik was next at 15th, 19:59. Chris Lovely was on his heals at 16th, 20:01.
Aaron Lovik was fifth man at 26th, 21:32.
“Aaron had a tough day,” Coach Spinney said. “I think he suffered more because he has less experience running.”
Rounding out the varsity team were Robert McGarry, 35th, 23:16, and Sam Crain, 32:41.
Had the team been running a dual meet with Summit, the second-place team, the Huskies would have won based on scoring. Sprague High School took first place.
If A. Lovik had been at his normal pace, the team may have contended for the top spot in the meet, Coach Spinney said. He expected the course to slow the team down. The terrain is different in Eastern Oregon, with a lot of lava rock, loose gravel and steep climbs where the downslopes are almost worse than the upslopes.
The Huskies will next race at Lane Community College, the site of the state meet. The meet is hosted by Creswell on Thursday.
“This meet will be a test,” Coach Spinney said. Following the meet will be some time off to rest and prime for the race at districts. At the district meet, racing is all about place.
Based on what he’s seeing now, “we could be anywhere from second to fifth,” Coach Spinney said. “Sisters is not a slouch, and Central is not a slouch team.”
Molalla is way out in front of the league, with Central and Sisters contending with Sweet Home for the second-place finish and a spot at the state meet, Coach Spinney said. North Marion could manage to make a showing at the meet as well.
The placement for the first four Husky runners was an improvement and an indication of where things could go.
“It was the first time we really talked about running as a group,” Coach Spinney said. “They ran great as a group.”
On girls varsity, Anne Helfrich led the way at 13th, 24:50. Megan Snow finished 17th, 26:19. Andrea Martin finished 21st, 27:12. Raelynn Wirth finished 32nd, 32:16.
The team meets Thursday at LCC then they travel to Bush Park in Salem for the district meet the following Friday. State will be held on Nov. 3 at LCC.