From where The Dalles Cross Country program was four years ago, there wasn’t an expectation of running under 16 minutes, trying to break school records or to be one of the best runners or teams in the state — It was just, ‘let’s just try to do good at districts.’

The Dalles cross country team hustles in the new year with Hood River Valley, Pendleton, Crook County, Redmond and Ridgeview representing the new challengers in the Intermountain Conference. So that means returning state qualifiers Emma Mullins, Hanna Ziegenhagen, Samuel Alvarez, Rey Aviluz, Zack Ziegenhagen and the rest of the Riverhawks will need to be at the top of their game.

The Dalles cross country coach Bob Thouvenel offered praise and well-wishes to his athletes, his assistant coaches and community members at the team’s year-end banquet Thursday night at the Riverenza Café in The Dalles. Cross country runners received team honors, such as Most Inspirational, Most Improved and Most Outstanding.

Five athletes take aim at top outputs in New Mexico