This Weekend in Cross Country - September 3
On this Labor Day Weekend, we profile two meets, The Ultimook Race in Oregon and Cool Breeze Invitational in California. Washington officially kicks off their season next week.
Ultimook Race - September 3
Tillamook,OR
On Saturday Tillamook High School hosts their annual Ultimook Race. Teams from Oregon and neighboring Washington and Idaho highlight the meet. One of the top teams entered is Boise High School and the defending 5A Idaho state girls champion which includes to junior Allie Bruce and Samantha Smith. The Boise boys finished second in Idaho 5A and Kaden Helder leads the Hawks of Boise. Crescent Valley of Corvallis is a solid program with the boys and girls finishing second at the Oregon State Meet. Individual state champion in XC and the 3000 in track, Emily Wisniewski is listed to race on Saturday. The defending 5A girls Oregon champion, Corvallis, returns most of their team and will be a factor.
Some of the teams at the Ultimook ran last week at the Night Meet. West Salem boys had four boys run 9:06 or faster on the 3000 meter course at the Night Meet and the girls have freshman Avery Meier and sophomore Gitte Lonigen had a nice opening of the season at the Night Meet by running under eleven minutes. Ana Peters of Lake Oswego won the sophomore race at the Night Meet and is entered at the Ultimook. South Eugene travels to the coast with sophomore girls runner up at the Night Meet Ansley Johnston and freshman Night Meet champion Madi Zemper-Prill. Elliot Hawley of Hood River Valley is coming off an impressive 9:06 time at last week's Night Meet. Erin Cosgrove of Southridge will be in the front pack for the girls varsity race.
Cool Breeze - September 3
Pomona Fairgrounds - Pomona, CA
The idea of a cool breeze blowing through the Pomona Fairplex is appealing as the forecast for Saturday is 108 degrees. For that reason, Cool Breeze has reduced the JV races to 1.5 miles and pushed the meet into the evening by four hours.
In the Sundown Showdown race, PrepCalTrack CIF SS preseason poll has a deep field that includes D1 top ten teams Great Oak with runner Kelli Gaffney leading the way, Vista Murrieta, Santiago/Corona, and Chino Hills. The ranked D2 teams include Peninsula, led by Aishling Callanan, Claremont with Denise Chen, and Ayala. Ranked D3 teams in the Showdown include Dana Hills with Allura Markow, Oak Park, Torrance and Sonora. The D4 and D5 will be represented by Bishop Amat, La Canada, Viewpoint and St. Margaret’s.
The number one ranked Great Oak led by Nick Gaffney is the class of the field followed by ranked D1 and D2 teams Santiago/Corona, Ayala, Tesoro with Casey Goetschel, and Claremont. The field is decorated with a number of D3 teams like Agoura, Dana Hills, Redlands East Valley, Oak Park and Torrance. The D4/D5 squads include Bishop Amat and St. Margaret’s.
We will be at the Cool Breeze Invitational and look for a photo gallery afterwards.
We will also be at the UCSB Gaucho Invitational with a photo gallery to follow.