Staff report
Columbia Gorge News
THE GORGE — The Dalles and Hood River Valley cross country teams each won individual and team district titles Oct. 28, and the two schools will be well represented at 2026 OSAA state cross country meet.
The Dalles girls, led by individual champion Flamingo Duyck, won the Class 4A Tri-Valley Conference district meet at McIver State Park near Estacada. The Hood River Valley boys, led by individual champion Gus VandenHeuvel, won the 5A Northwest Oregon Conference district meet at Blue Lake Regional Park, near Gresham. Hood River’s Savina Davis won the NWOC girls individual championship, leading the Eagles to second place behind Sandy; both teams qualified for the state meet.
The Dalles boys, who finished second to Molalla in the TVC final, did not earn a wild card spot into the state meet. In the OSAA Class 4A ranks, only the top finishing teams at each of the six, district cross country meets earn automatic berths to state. Six other berths are awarded based on season results; they are awarded by a committee of coaches from each league.
The Dalles High girls left no doubt about their standing, winning their fourth straight TVC championship scoring 23 team points. The Riverhawk girls have now qualified for state the past eight seasons that the meet has been held. The Dalles boys had qualified for state six straight seasons.
The Hood River boys, led by the 1-2 district finish of VandenHeuvel and runner-up Josh Carley, increased their state meet qualifying streak to six seasons by winning the NWOC crown on a drizzly day over runner-up Centennial, 38-68. VandenHeuvel said the race was: “Very tactical. I went out with the top guy, William (Strasser of Milwaukie), I’ve been battling with all season. Then I passed him during like the second mile and really took it from there. I felt great. The course was super muddy, but I feel like I raced it well.”
The Hood River freshman won in 16 minutes, four seconds. Carley overtook Strasser with less than 1,000 meters remaining and finished in 16:20 to Strasser’s 16:25. Copeland Louis ran a season best for the Eagles, finishing fourth in 16:32. Also figuring in the team score for HRV were Ethan Clough (eighth, 16:44), and Leland Flood (24th, 17:58).
Davis finished second at district a year ago behind graduated teammate Syl Perrin. “I’ve really missed Syl,” said Davis. “It’s really hard to do all these workouts — and easy runs — without her … but I’m pushing through.”
Davis won the race by more than a minute in 18:38, a quick time for the rain softened course, and less than 20 seconds off her personal best. “I was trying not to go out too hard; I definitely went out slower than I’ve been,” she said. “But I didn’t really hit a wall at all.”
Hood River’s varsity team score also included: Isabel Ulland (11th, 21:50); Freya Nelson (14th, PR 22:07); Noah Crain (15th, 22:07); and Layla Yost (19th, 23:44).
The individual, same-school sweep of the girls and boys varsity races by HRV’s Davis and VandenHeuvel matches former Eagle runners Daisy Dolan and Jesse Wiley, who won district crowns in 2016 in the Columbia River Conference.
Duyck won the TVC title in 19:37, just five seconds off her personal best. The Dalles’ four other team scorers included: Josie Brace (third, personal record 20:18); Marley Perry (fourth, PR 20:31); Alessandra Meza (sixth 21:00); and Gabriella Dominguez Bahena (ninth, 21:21). Rozlyn Elliott was 10th in a season best 21:23, and Ellie Brock was 11th in a PR 21:37.
The Dalles boys were paced at district by Luke Sorenson (third, PR 16:34); Lazarus Taylor (sixth, 16:58); Zeb Stelzer (ninth, 17:22); Zadion Stelzer (18th, PR 18:36); and Steven Chavez (19th, 18:34). Sorenson and Taylor will compete at state as individuals.
Columbia reaches WIAA finale
The Columbia High girls finished second behind La Center at the WIAA 1A/2A District 4 championship at Lewis River Golf Course in Woodland. The Bruins scored 55 team points to the 37 by La Center. Both teams qualified for this week’s WIAA state finals in Pasco, WA.
Columbia senior Lilah Zimmerman, who won her third Trico League individual cross country championship Oct. 21, finished second in the district race behind Kamille Vandevender, 19:44 to 19:58. Columbia’s Kathryn O’Connor was fourth in 21:02.
The Columbia boys were third at district behind Seton Catholic and La Center, the same teams they finished behind at the Trico meet two weeks ago. Junior Colby Clark was 13th to pace the Bruin boys at district in 18:24. Columbia also qualified its boys team into the state meet.
Stock paces Trout Lake
Trout Lake senior Melody Stock finished second in the girls varsity race at the Special District 4 championship at McKay Park in Pendleton on Oct. 30. Stock finished at 18:56 for 5,000 meters; Evelyn Hodgson on Weston-McEwen won the race in 18:51. Trout Lake’s Felicity Peck was fourth (19:33) and will join Stock at the OSAA 2A/1A state meet Nov. 7 in Eugene.
The Trout Lake boys were fourth at district and led by senior Joby Steward’s 11th place finish in 17:30. The Mustang boys team earned a berth in the 2A/1A state meet.
Commented