TD Cross County Makes Good Time on Home Course
The Dalles Riverhawks Boys Team poses with their trophy.
by Jill Pearson
If you’re looking for a fast time, the course up at Sorosis Park in The Dalles might not be at the top of your list. Uneven hills throughout the park, plus the infamous “college hill” next to CGCC, make it among the toughest cross country races in the state. If you’re looking for a good time, though, it might be the right course for you.
About a dozen middle and high school teams from around the state converged at the park last Friday for the Bridgette Nelson Invitational. Both The Dalles girls’ and boys’ varsity teams placed first, with strong showings from JV runners as well.
New TD runners Madison Goldbacher and Gabriel Castillo-Quintana won the JV races; this is the first year running cross country for both of them, and they’ve watched their times improve each race. In the boys varsity race, five medals out of the top 10 went to Riverhawk runners, with two sub-18 times for Leo Lemann (17:54, third) and Juan Diego Contreras (17:02, first place). Fellow IMC school Pendleton tied for second along with the small- but competitive- Heppner squad.
In the girls varsity race, St. Helens runner Hannah Hayduk took the lead at 22:20, with TD runners Alaina Casady (23, third) and Caitie Wring (23:20, fifth) finishing within a minute behind. Sophomore Fiona Dunlop’s tenth place finish, along with Lucy Booth (15) and newcomer Gabrielle Kahler (18) was enough to earn them a combined team score of 20.
Much of the long-term success of The Dalles’ cross country program can be traced to the decades of coaching from Bob Thouvenel, who was honored at the meet’s awards. He continues to volunteer, in what will be his 57th season.
Next Friday the Riverhawk XC team will travel to McMinnville for the Flat and Fast Invitational. As a course, it promises to be everything Sorosis is not- although hopefully with just as much success.
To see TD Cross Country’s upcoming race schedule click here.
