The Husky cross country team faced stiff competition from top-notch 4A teams in a high-powered meet Wednesday at Waterloo.
“The boys team was complete but would have dropped its score significantly had Sam Bishop been able to finish and Dallin Holden were on varsity,” Coach Billy Snow said. Those who did not get a PR were not far off.
The runners are faster than they were last year, Coach Snow said, and he is asking them to beat last year’s times significantly.
On the boys team, Coach Snow is looking to close the gap behind Peter VanDerlip, Jess Keys and Anthony Ertsgaard. A drop in points will follow, especially if everyone gets faster.
Coach Snow is pushing the girls to keep pushing each other and stay positive to catch Stayton in the district meet at the end of the season.
Coach Snow said he “set the bar too far out there” for this time of the season.
“At Philomath, we will base our goals on this meet and Cascade,” Coach Snow said. Philomath, on Saturday, is a fast course, and he expects the team to run well.
Varsity Boys ? 75 runners
Peter VanDerlip, 37th, 19:11, 6:10 per mile, PR; Jess Keys, 49th, 19:34, 6:17 per mile; Anthony Ertsgaard, 51st, 19:42, 6:20 per mile; Alex Ritzman, 62nd, 20:22, 6:33 per mile; Jake Smith, 68th, 21:20, 6:52 per mile, PR; Ryan Sipe, 69th, 21:35, 6:56 per mile; Sam Bishop, did not finish, lower legs hurt.
Varsity Girls ? 60 runners
Ashley Danielson, 27th, 23:04, 7:25 per mile, PR; Jessica Trautwein, 41st, 24:35, 7:54 per mile, PR; Heidi Wilson, 50th, 26:29, 8:30 per mile, PR; Heidi Darden, 58th, 28:54, 9:17 per mile, PR; Staci Grove, did not finish, stomach pain.
Junior Varsity Boys ? 75 runners
Dallin Holden, 13th, 20:08, 6:28 per mile, PR; Sam Crain, 60th, 22:52, 7:21 per mile.
Junior Varsity Girls ? 72 runners
Jessica Andrade, 61st, 32:24, 10:26 per mile; Danyel Cranford, 64th, 32:32, 10:29 per mile; Diane Kennelly, 71st, 36:45, 11:51 per mile.