Sweet Home’s cross-country runners got a high-altitude race in last week at the Clash in the Cascades, held Thursday, Oct. 14, at Big Meadow Golf Course in Black Butte.
Nate Coleman was the top finisher for the Huskies, finishing 31st in a field of 71 runners, in 19:01.
Aiden Shamek finished in 22:18, and Kyle Watkins, running his second cross-country race, clocked 23:39, which was an improvement of more than two minutes over his initial race, the Springfield Invite held in Eugene five days previously in Eugene.
The top finisher from the Oregon West Conference was junior Mateo Candanoza of Philomath (17:19).
Large schools Mountain View (34) and Bend (92) dominated the team scores, with Cottage Grove (97), Sisters (100) and Philomath (105) trailing. Sweet Home did not have the necessary five runners to score as a team.
On the girls side, Lydia Wright was 33rd in a field of 62 runners, in 23:50. Paige Chafin, running her first high school cross-country race, finished in 26:05.
The Huskies will run the Valiant Invitational, hosted by Valley Catholic, Thursday, Oct. 21, before the Oregon West Championships, which will be Oct. 28.