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PAYETTE, ID – A number of Oregon teams made the trip to just over the Idaho border to take part in the Payette Open on Wednesday, Sept.22.
The La Grande girls cross country team made the drive east worth the time, taking the team title by a single point over Idaho’s Melba team. The Tigers scored 46 points while Melba was on the scoreboard with 47 points. Union was third with 62 points.
At the finish line, La Grande sophomore Emily Tubbs was the sole runner to complete the course in under 20 minutes, taking first place with a time of 19 minutes, 54.72 seconds. Almost one minute back in second place was Union senior Audrey Wells and a time of 20:52.51. La Grande sophomore Kiah Carlson finished third and to wrap up the top five, La Grande sophomore Faith Calhoun grabbed the number five slot.
Adrian sophomore Evalyn Nunez placed 22nd for the Antelopes followed by Ontario senior Trinity Farr in 23rd, the top finish for the Tigers. The best finish for Four Rivers came from freshman Lacatia Mason in 27th and Vale sophomore Harley Belnap placed 41st for the Vikings.
The Union boys rolled to an easy win, scoring 29 points while Idaho’s Melba put up 67 points. The Tiger boys of La Grande finished sixth and Vale scored in the eighth slot. Four Rivers finished the day in 10th followed by Ontario in 11th.
Individually, Union had three of the top five placers led by junior Taylor Fox and a time of 17:24.28. Fox and teammate Eli Williams, a sophomore at Union were the only two runners under 18 minutes as Williams crossed in 17:50.06. Union freshman Nathanael O’Reilly was fourth in the race.
In third place was Vale sophomore Trevor Stewart running his career best time of 18:03.92.
La Grande found their best finish on the feet of junior Caleb Murie in 14th and in 16th, Ontario’s best placement came from junior Michael Gomez. Adrian Chase Johnston finished 23rd and Four Rivers junior Aiden Herrera was 38th for the Falcon’s best placement.
Girls team scores: 1. La Grande, 46. 2. Melba, 47. 3. Union, 62. 4. Cole Valley Christian, 69. 5. New Plymouth, 118.
Girls individual results: 1. Emily Tubbs (La Grande), 19:54.72. 2. Audrey Wells (Union), 20:52.51. 3. Kiah Carlson (La Grande), 20:56.59. 5. Faith Calhoun (La Grande), 21:28.06. 8. Cecilia Villagomez (La Grande), 21:45.67. 13. Audrey Garlitz (Union), 22:35.89. 16. Hailey Davis (Union), 23:02.81. 17. Danielle O’Reilly (Union), 23:24.14. 18. Jayda Blackburn (Union), 23:36.36. 22. Evalyn Nunez (Adrian), 24:35.77. 23. Trinity Farr (Ontario), 24:44.69. 27. Lacatia Mason (Four Rivers), 25:19.45. 31. Kaci Baxter (Union), 25:56.77. 33. Ally Gettman (Union), 26:19.14. 39. Sadie Wagster (Adrian), 27:54.59. 40. Monica Gomez (Ontario), 27:54.86. 41. Harley Belnap (Vale), 27:59.61. 44. Kinsley Kemble (Ontario), 29:06.72. 45. Anne Sweet (La Grande), 29:20.53. 47. Isabelle Higgins (Ontario), 30:28.53. 50. Elizabeth Fritz (Vale), 33:10.47.
Boys results: 1. Union, 29. 2. Melba, 67. 3. Cole Valley Christian, 79. 4. New Plymouth, 141. 5. Payette, 165. 6. La Grande, 187. 7. Rimrock, 188. 8. Vale, 190. 9. Tri-Valley, 191. 10. Four Rivers, 260. 11. Ontario, 282. 12. Gem State Academy, 298.
Boys individual results: 1. Taylor Fox (Union), 17:24.28. 2. Eli Williams (Union), 17:50.06. 3. Trevor Stewart (Vale), 18:03.92. 4. Nathanael O’Reilly (Union), 18:04.27. 11. Skyler Perkins (Union), 19:02.53. 13. David McDonald (Union), 19:16.78. 14. Caleb Murie (La Grande), 19:20.23. 15. Noah Platz (Union), 19:24.09. 18. Michael Gomez (Ontario), 19:42.63. 19. Logan Pedro (Union), 19:54.88. 22. Eli Belnap (Vale), 19:57.13. 23. Chase Johnston (Adrian), 20:03.34. 33. Patrick Sheehy (Union), 20:51.31. 38. Aiden Herrera (Four Rivers), 21:16.80. 45. Connor Heather (La Grande), 21:48.11. 46. David Cervantes (Four Rivers), 21:52.52. 48. Isaac Lee (Union), 22:10.16. 49. Michael Gisi (La Grande), 22:11.34. 52. Dominic Bates (Vale), 22:18.39. 55. Dallin Perry (La Grande), 22:29.29. 56. Demetrius Fuentes (Four Rivers), 22:29.98. 57. Xabi Jimenez (Union), 22:44.07. 60. Koy Wadsworth (Union), 22:47.33. 67. Chaz Howard (La Grande), 23:08.35. 73. Marek Fuhrmann (Ontario), 24:17.54. 79. Brady Jacobs (Vale), 25:10.70. 82. Riley Martinez (La Grande), 25:30.93. 86. Luke Andersen (Vale), 27:00.82. 87. Daniel Flerchinger (Vale), 27:24.59. 88. Carson Brown (Ontario), 27:34.01. 89. Nick Sandberg (Ontario), 28:28.79. 90. Samuel Mendieta (Vale), 28:53.50. 92. Brennen Hutchins (Four Rivers), 29:13.20. 93. Marcus Grimaldo (Four Rivers), 29:24.64. 96. Preston Westenskow (La Grande), 30:39.51. 97. Conner Ramos (Ontario), 31:55.69. 37. 99. Noah Lee (Union), 33:23.51.
