The Philomath High School girls cross-country team opened its season in winning fashion Friday evening by claiming the team title at The Opener, a 3-kilometer race at Ash Creek Preserve on the Western Oregon University campus. Junior Cassidy Smart became the first Warrior runner to win the individual title at the meet, which is in its fourth year.
Philomath scored 90 points to outdistance a 23-team field, finishing well ahead of runner-up Banks (119) and third-place Tualatin (133). Corvallis (175) and Lakeridge (195) rounded out the top five.
Smart crossed the 3K course in 10 minutes, 10.01 seconds. She has steadily climbed the results sheet at The Opener during her career after finishing eighth as a freshman and fifth a year ago before topping the field this time around.
Philomath placed five of its six varsity runners in the top 40. Freshman Olivia Hernandez was 15th in 11:02.55, followed by sophomore Piper Pedder in 25th (11:18.01), sophomore Sienna Bushnell in 29th (11:21.09) and junior Reagan Nuño in 40th (11:37.23). Junior Libby Kramer rounded out the varsity scorers in 54th at 11:54.66.
Friday’s win marks the third team title at The Opener for the Philomath girls program, which also won in 2023 and 2024. Former PHS standout Adele Beckstead finished second individually in both of those years, but Smart is the first Philomath runner to actually win the individual race at the meet.
On the boys side, Philomath finished 15th out of 30 scoring teams with 432 points. McMinnville won the team title with 95 points, followed by Corvallis (103), Knappa (108) and Lakeridge (110).
Freshman Riggins Bushnell led the Warriors, placing 48th in 9:44.09. He was followed by freshman Warren Smart in 59th (9:48.36) and freshman Braven Beard in 60th (9:49.39). Philomath was without a few of its runners on the boys side for the meet.
The Warriors will next compete on Sept. 5 at the Ultimook Race at the Hydrangea Ranch near Tillamook.
The Opener
Friday, Aug. 28, at Ash Creek Preserve
Western Oregon University, Monmouth
BOYS
TEAM SCORING—1, McMinnville, 95; 2, Corvallis, 103; 3, Knappa, 108; 4, Lakeridge, 110; 5, Tualatin, 185; 6, Cottage Grove, 236; 7, Newberg, 243; 8, Stayton, 247; 9, Tigard, 261; 10, McNary, 333; 11, North Eugene, 352; 12, Silverton, 378; 13, Caldera, 420; 14, Adrienne Nelson, 424; 15, Philomath, 432; 16, David Douglas, 433; 17, North Salem, 449; 18, Harrisburg, 481; 19, Southridge, 493; 20, Canby, 510; 21, Central, 532; 22, C.S. Lewis Academy, 557; 23, La Salle Prep, 601; 24, Santiam Christian, 632; 25, Vernonia, 649; 26, Corbett, 663; 27, Banks, 665; 28, Scio, 741; 29, Gervais, 741; 30, West Albany, 754.
PHS RESULTS (3K)
VARSITY—48, Riggins Bushnell, 9:44.09; 59, Warren Smart, 9:48.36; 60, Braven Beard, 9:49.39; 152, Cameron Barlow, 10:57.29; 154, Oakley Pausch, 10:57.47.
PHS JV—72, Milo Morrison, 11:33.93; 168, Mika Laukkanen Raskauskas, 12:53.81; 211, Rex Sederlin, 13:50.63.
GIRLS
TEAM SCORING—1, Philomath, 90; 2, Banks, 119; 3, Tualatin, 133; 4, Corvallis, 175; 5, Lakeridge, 195; 6, Dallas, 200; 7, McMinnville, 217; 8, Tigard, 240; 9, Cottage Grove, 248; 10, Southridge, 254; 11, Adrienne Nelson, 282; 12, Corbett, 299; 13, Canby, 326; 14, Santiam Christian, 328; 15, Stayton, 332; 16, North Salem, 372; 17, West Albany, 375; 18, Silverton, 408; 19, Newberg, 425; 20, Harrisburg, 480; 21, Scio, 554; 22, East Linn Christian, 591; 23, Gervais, 640.
PHS RESULTS (3K)
VARSITY—1, Cassidy Smart, 10:10.01; 15, Olivia Hernandez, 11:02.55; 25, Piper Pedder, 11:18.01; 29, Sienna Bushnell, 11:21.09; 40, Reagan Nuño, 11:37.23; 54, Libby Kramer, 11:54.66.
PHS JV—21, Scarlet Panico, 13:53.24; 32, Pyper Rutland, 14:12.93; 36, Addie Kowalewski, 14:18.76; 53, Cassidy Grubbs, 14:40.75.
NOVICE—18, Wren Pope, 15:56.24.