Hood River’s combined middle school cross country team (comprised of runners from Wy’east and Hood River middle schools) completed its season on a high note over the weekend at the middle school state meet in Portland, where the girls team finished in second place in the 3,000 meter Super Champs division (top division).
Despite having two of the team’s top runners out due to illness, the girls managed 119 points — second to Ashland with 99 points — and were led by top finisher Reed Bauer, who put in a time of 12:30.65. After Bauer were Erika Wellenstein (12:53.53), Chloe Bullock (13:04.06), Terra Mikkelsen (13:06.84), Josie Peterson (13:19.15) and Frances Melby (13:35.72).
“The girls knew they were at a disadvantage not having their number one and number five girls running in such a highly competitive race of the top 150 middle school girls in the state, but they went out and ran a near perfect team race by knowing what place they were running in and making the perfect moves at the proper places in a very wet and muddy course,” Coach Steve Wrye commented. “The girls now know how difficult it is to win a state championship; it takes talent, hard work and some luck to win it all. With all but one girl coming back next year and many other girls with great talent on the team, we look forward to a great season once again next year.”
The HR boys team competed in the Champs division (lower division) at the state meet, where they finished 5th. Top seven finishers for the boys were Chad Klass, Jackson Perkins, Pierce Kline, Nathaniel Meyer, Bryce Salmon, Zebulon Schilperoort, Joshua Humann and Gunnar McCaw.
“The boys team is very young — mostly sixth graders — and will be very good next year,” Wrye noted. “Eight-grader Chad Kline was outstanding all year and led the boys team.”
Another runner who deserves recognition, Wrye said, is Charlotte Bromham, who was unable to race at state but set an all-time HRMS record earlier in the season by being the girl to run under 12 minutes in a 3,000 meter race
Wrye and coach Shawnie Emmons gave special thanks to everyone on the team for their hard work all season, and to assistant coaches Mike Parkinson, Steve Noteboom and Heather Staten for their dedication to the athletes and the program.
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