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All tagged TDHS Cross Country
A difference in starting position made all the difference for Aiden Erickson in Oregon City on Sept. 16. Normally in the back, the lean 6’3” sophomore toed the line for the varsity boys’ race, in the front quarter of the pack for the entire race. That lead translated into a 26-second PR from last year, with Erickson finishing sub-18 at 17:56.
Emotions were running high as Bob Thouvenal calculated the scores while Caleb Caldwell and Tyson Long finished at 18:10. Wide-eyed and a little in disbelief, he turned to The Dalles parents huddled on the hillside near the finish line. “I think we won!”
On the back of the pullovers were quotes from the season, from the silly “are we running today?”, to the oft-repeated “chin down, eyes up!”, and encapsulated with one of the seniors’ reasons for improving: “I decided to be fast.” Last Wednesday, Oct. 26, the entire team followed that advice at the Tri-Valley District meet, racing their best season times, and earning multiple spots to the State meet.
At Estacada two days later, at last, the Riverhawks finally caught a glimpse of the reward for their efforts. With nearly 20 personal records, the varsity and JV boys placed first, while the girls’ teams came in second behind 6A Oregon City.
If you could only watch one cross-country meet in the season, go out to Heppner. It’s the ultimate, stripped-down version of what the sport is all about. Dust rises from the pack of runners. Weeds crunch under spikes as a handful of spectators look out under desolately beautiful blue skies.
With mildly scorching temperatures, the teams’ times were just as hot for The Dalles, Henkle, Glenwood, and fellow Tri-Valley League team Estacada.
