Nike Portland XC Recap
Aloha High School hosted the 43rd annual Nike Portland XC Invitational last Saturday and here is the recap of the four varsity races. You will notice the mixture of California, Oregon and Washington athletes at the meet! West coast is the best coast!
Jim Danner Championship
Jim Danner was the Aloha High School cross country coach who started the meet in 1980 and had successful teams in the 1980s. The school honors his life by naming the elite race race after him and giving the individual winner of the race the Jim Danner Award.
The girl's race started off with a comfortable pack and then Hanne Thomsen of Montgomery of Santa Rosa (CA) built a three second lead at the one mile mark over Ella Thorsett of Summit (OR) and Anna Callahan of Skyline (WA). After the mile mark Hanne, the sophomore who won the California State XC Championship D3 race last fall and won the 3200 at the California State Track Championship race in the spring, extended her lead by almost 30 seconds by the two mile mark. Hanne came down the long straight away at the finish all by her self and won by almost 50 seconds with a time of 16:49.2 over the 5000 meter course. Hanne is the first Californian to win the Jim Danner Championship since Destiny Collins of Great Oak in 2014. Summit won the team award with 110 points over Rancho Cucamonga (CA) who finished with 135 points.
With about 800 meters in the boy's race, Alexander Garcia-Silver of Marshfield (OR) took out the pace and by mile one, Jason Parra of Millikan (CA) took the lead. Zach Munson of Sehome (WA) pushed the pace at mile two and spread out the field. Ultimately Alexander regained the lead and pulled away for the win in 14:55.2. Alexander represents Marshfield High School which boasts Steve Prefontaine as one of its alums. Alexander is the first Oregonian to win the Jim Danner Championships since Matthew Maton of Summit won it in 2013. Oregon schools showed up for the team awards as Lincoln won with 120 points followed by West Salem at 120 points and Franklin at 144 points.
Photo gallery for the Jim Danner Championship - click HERE
Division 1
Selena Bangerter of Henry Jackson (WA) took the lead from the starting gun and won in a time of 18:29.8 with Jesuit (OR) girls winning the team championship with 38 points over Holy Names Academy (WA) with 108 points. Jesuit showed their depth as a possible national power with their JV athletes dominating the division 1 race. Owen Powell of Mercer Island (WA) and Joseph Blanshan of Seton Catholic (WA) shared the lead for most of the race with Owen taking the D1 prize in a time of 15:33.2. It is a great start for Owen as he also won the Bellarmine Invitational two weeks ago. Summit boys narrowly defeated Mercer Island with a score of 178 to 181.
Photo gallery for the D1 Races - click HERE
Division 2
Paige Gerrard of Snohomish (WA) took charge of the race and led the entire race to finish in a time of 18:29.9 and Bainbridge (WA) girls won the D2 title with a score of 73 and Mater Dei (CA) taking second with 93 points. Finn Granger of Beaverton (OR) led the division 2 boys through the one mile mark and fellow Metro League runner Salah Muhumed of Aloha (OR) took the lead by the 2-mile mark and won the race in 16:31.6. It was the first varsity individual win for Aloha, the host school, since Todd Jackman in 1993.
Photo gallery for the D2 Races - Click HERE
Division 3
Olivia Buswell of South Salem (OR) led the division 3 girls through the one mile mark and then Clara Diepenbrock of Glacier Peak led the rest of the way for the win in 19:58.9. South Salem got the win over Glacier Peak with a score of 90 to 103. Mason Morical of Caldera (OR) led from the start of the division 3 race and won in 16:47.6. Mt. Si (WA) won a tight team battle with Clackamas (OR) with a score of 66 to 69.
Photo gallery for the D3 Races - Click HERE
Photo gallery for the JV Races - Click HERE
Photo gallery for the Middle School Races - Click HERE