Great day for a run around the lake

Junior Jane Lacouture (left) and freshman Allison Hughes are both important runners on the Siuslaw cross country team. Hughes competed in her first Woahink Invitational on Oct. 1 and finished 9th, top finish for any freshman competing in the race. Lacouture, a veteran of the SHS cross country team, finished 18th at Woahink. She also plays basketball and competes for the Siuslaw track and field team. Photo by Zac Burtt/Siuslaw News

By: Zac Burtt/Siuslaw News

Updated: 7 months ago / Posted Oct 2, 2022

Siuslaw XC hosts annual Woahink Invitational

Oct. 2, 2022 — The Siuslaw cross country team hosted its annual Woahink Lake Invitational on Oct. 1. The teams on hand could not ask for better weather as an unseasonably hot day greeted teams from all around the state.

First was the boys varsity race. Crater, a 5A school from Central Point and Philomath, from the 4A classification, tied to win the team title on the boys side with 58 points each. The Vikings were third with 71.

Jaden Owens, a senior from Cottage Grove, won the race in 17:04.1.

Top boy finishers for Siuslaw were the three senior leaders, Sam Ulrich (7^th, 17:42.8), Kyle Hughes (9^th, 18:06.7) and Jacob Blankenship (14^th, 18:28.5).

Next for the Viks was junior Dylan Jensen (20^th, 19:12.9) then freshman Camden Linton (25^th, 19:38.7). Two more freshmen, Kale Jensen (45^th, 21:01.9) and Julian Davidson-Esau (46^th, 21:03) wrapped up the finishers for the Siuslaw boys.

The girls race was next. Philomath took the team title with 29 points. The Vikings were second with 50.

Senior Samantha Payne of Crater won the girls race in 20:37.5.

Junior Corduroy Holbrook finished 7^th in 22:09.5 and was top Viking girl.

Freshman Allison Hughes continued her impressive debut season with a 9^th place finish in 22:11.2. Hughes’ 9^th place was tops for freshman in the race.

Sophomore Addison McNeill (17^th, 23:03.9) was next for the Viks, followed by junior Jane Lacouture (18^th, 23:29.1). After that came sophomore Maya Wells (24^th, 24:32.2), freshman Abigail Jones (25^th, 24:38.6) and sophomore Macy McNeill (31^st, 25:19.2).

Next for the Viking harriers is an event in Philomath, the Paul Merriman Invitational. The meet is next Saturday, Oct. 8, at 2 p.m. Philomath was Siuslaw’s top competition in the team races, on both the boys and girls side, at both the Woahink Invitational and at the Northwest Classic a few weeks ago. The Merriman Invitational will give the Viks a chance to continue racing against top competition like the Warriors to help prepare for the district and state races at the end of October and beginning of November.

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