John L. Braese
LANE COMMUNITY COLLEGE – The combined team of Enterprise/Joseph/Wallowa came up just three points short of denying Oregon Episcopal a repeat of a state team title as the 3A/2A/1A girls state cross country meet came to a close on Saturday, Nov. 9 on the campus of Lane Community College.
Oregon Episcopal finished the day with 79 points, a mere three points ahead of the Outlaws’ 82 points. Union/Cove also took the podium, placing third with 126 points. Imbler finished just outside the top five, claiming sixth place in the standings while Heppner/Ione/Condon grabbed a top 10 finish in ninth.
Mustang junior Lily Nichols crossed the finish line in sixth place, the top finish for eastern Oregon, in a time of 18 minutes, 53.6 seconds. In her first state meet, Pine Eagle freshman Lindsey Brown ran one spot behind Nichols to claim seventh in a battle to the line with Imbler senior Paiten Braseth in eighth. Enterprise/Joseph/Wallowa freshman Lilly Weer also managed a top 10 placement, grabbing ninth in the standings. Weer saw her teammate, sophomore Kyra Brown, just 30 seconds later take a 13th place finish.
The Union/Cove team saw two top 20 finishes led by sophomore Millie Miller in 15th (a personal best time for the Bobcat) and senior Josie Patton in 16th. Lakeview sophomore Emma Halblieb placed the Honkers in a top 20 finish, taking 20th in just over the 20-minute mark.
Cross country fans can expect to see many of these same runners return next season as only two of the 21 eastern Oregon finishes went to seniors.
Team Scores: 1. Oregon Episcopal, 79. 2. Enterprise/Joseph/Wallowa, 82. 3. Union/Cove, 126. 4. Banks, 163. 5. Siuslaw, 164. 6. Imbler, 200. 7. Pleasant Hill, 218. 8. Valley Catholic, 222. 9. Heppner, 222. 10. Coquille, 249. 11. Cascade Christian, 266. 12. Taft, 285. 13. Central Linn, 289. 14. Westside Christian, 296. 15. Sisters, 319. 16. Knappa, 323.
Individual Results: 6. Lily Nichols (Heppner/Ione/Condon),18:53.6. 7.Lindsey Brown (Pine Eagle),18:57.3. 8.Paiten Braseth (Imbler),18:58.0. 9. Lilly Weer (Enterprise/Joseph/Wallowa),18:58.2. 13. Kyra Brown (Enterprise/Joseph/Wallowa), 19:27.5. 15. Millie Miller (Union/Cove), 19:52.7. 16. Josie Patton (Union/Cove), 19:53.5. 20. Emma Halblieb (Lakeview), 20:05.6. 21. Taylor Weishaar (Union/Cove), 20:12.2. 25. Owyhee Harguess (Enterprise/Joseph/Wallowa), 20:23.2. 26. Elizabeth Goeres (Lakeview), 20:24.3. 27. Mary Hellinger (Enterprise/Joseph/Wallowa), 20:25.8. 30. Zion Boyd (Enterprise/Joseph/Wallowa), 20:36.3. 34. Paige Braseth (Imbler), 20:43.3. 35. London Kunz (Imbler), 20:43.3. 37. Gia Savage (Union/Cove), 20:53.5. 42. Riley Archer (Heppner/Ione/Condon), 21:01.3. 45. Brooklyn Hendricks (Heppner/Ione/Condon), 21:12.3. 48. Abigail Hurley (Enterprise/Joseph/Wallowa), 21:15.6. 51. Camdyn Weer (Enterprise/Joseph/Wallowa), 21:22.9. 53. Hailey McDaniel (Heppner/Ione/Condon), 21:29.2. 64. Camilla Blackburn (Union/Cove), 21:57.2. 72. Josephine Bingaman (Imbler), 22:35.0. 85. Kiana deLint (Imbler), 23:24.3. 90. Helen Gordon (Imbler), 23:42.5. 99. Eva Paulson (Imbler), 24:21.5. 107. CJ Delaney (Union/Cove), 24:58.1. 113. Laia Puelles (Heppner/Ione/Condon), 26:06.0.
