Philomath High School’s girls cross-country team, ranked among the state’s top Class 4A contenders this fall, participated in a high-level competition Saturday at The Mook XC Invitational in Tillamook. The Warriors finished 11th in a stacked Elite Varsity field that included 123 runners on teams from Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Colorado.
Philomath entered the day with an eye on Banks, one of the top challengers in the 4A ranks, but the massive field made it difficult to track the race within the race.
“We got stuck in the back of a big field and lost track of the Banks runners,” coach Joe Fulton said. “Banks benefited from the big field. Dual meet score today would be Philomath 28, Banks 29.”
Junior Cassidy Smart led Philomath with eighth place overall in 17:55.86, followed by freshman Olivia Hernandez in 12th at 18:26.20. Sophomore Sienna Bushnell (66th, 20:08.94), sophomore Piper Pedder (75th, 20:19.56), junior Reagan Nuño (92nd, 20:48.35), junior Libby Kramer (104th, 21:06.87) and freshman Sienna Smith (109th, 21:36.03) rounded out the varsity squad.
Issaquah (Wash.) won the team title with 101 points, edging Cheyenne Mountain (Colo.) at 135 and Eagle (Idaho) at 138. Banks placed seventh with 193 points.
On the boys’ side, Philomath competed in the Gold Varsity division and finished 12th, tied on points with Cleveland at 318.
“Great test — we learned a lot,” Fulton said. “Our boys improved a great deal today.”
Senior Galen Murch paced the Warriors by placing 24th in 16:48.13. Freshman Riggins Bushnell came across the line in 43rd with a time of 17:11.72. Freshman Warren Smart (66th, 17:28.50), freshman Braven Beard (69th, 17:29.19), sophomore Cameron Barlow (126th, 18:58.95) and senior Oakley Pausch (133rd, 19:19.37) were also in the lineup for Philomath.
Shorecrest (Wash.) won the team title with 88 points.
The Mook XC Invitational is held on what organizers describe as a championship-style course at Alderbrook Golf Course with a fast, downhill first mile, an uphill second mile and a mixed final mile described as the determining stretch of the race.
Philomath returns to action Sept. 26 at the Woahink Lake XC Invitational at Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park.
The Mook XC Invitational
Saturday, Sept. 19, at Alderbrook Golf Course, Tillamook
BOYS
GOLD VARSITY
TEAM SCORING—1, Shorecrest (Wash.) 88; 2, Lincoln (Wash.) 113; 3, Oregon City 115; 4, Clackamas 123; 5, North Medford 180; 6, Eastlake (Wash.) 203; 7, Sprague 243; 8, Eagle (Idaho) 281; 9, Overlake (Wash.) 282; 10, Adrienne Nelson 289; 11, Newberg 313; 12, Cleveland 318; 12, Philomath 318; 14, Auburn Mountainview (Wash.) 360; 15, Forest Grove 363; 16, Central Catholic 401; 17, Liberty 415; 18, Tigard 419; 19, Scappoose 429; 20, Hockinson (Wash.) 443; 21, Glencoe 456.
PHS RESULTS—24, Galen Murch, 16:48.13; 43, Riggins Bushnell, 17:11.72; 66, Warren Smart, 17:28.50; 69, Braven Beard, 17:29.19; 126, Cameron Barlow, 18:58.95; 133, Oakley Pausch, 19:19.37.
JUNIOR VARSITY (Silver Division)—13, Milo Morrison, 20:04.13; 88, Mika Laukkanen Raskauskas, 22:05.54; 256, Rex Sederlin, 26:27.53.
GIRLS
ELITE VARSITY
TEAM SCORING—1, Issaquah (Wash.) 101; 2, Cheyenne Mountain (Colo.) 135; 3, Eagle (Idaho) 138; 4, Jesuit 143; 5, Sherwood 189; 6, Franklin 193; 7, Banks 193; 8, West Valley (Wash.) 206; 9, Ida B. Wells 208; 10, Ridgeline (Wash.) 211; 11, Philomath 212; 12, Eastlake (Wash.) 218; 13, St Mary’s Academy 264; 14, Scappoose 304.
PHS RESULTS—8, Cassidy Smart, 17:55.86; 12, Olivia Hernandez, 18:26.20; 66, Sienna Bushnell, 20:08.94; 75, Piper Pedder, 20:19.56; 92, Reagan Nuño, 20:48.35; 104, Libby Kramer, 21:06.87; 109, Sienna Smith, 21:36.03.
JUNIOR VARSITY (Gold Division)—29, Pyper Rutland, 23:17.08; 54, Cassidy Grubbs, 24:00.90; 74, Ava Panico, 24:33.51; 89, Scarlet Panico, 25:29.32; 92, Danae Imlach, 25:37.17.