By JOHN McCALLUM
Managing Editor
Medical Lake High’s cross country team opened its 2019 season with competition at the multi-team Highlander Invitational last Saturday, Sept. 14, producing a variety of results across the seven races on the 2.5-mile course at Shadle Park in Spokane.
“The day went much better than expected,” head coach Gene Blankenship said. “We had several athletes ribbon in their races.”
The Cardinal girls varsity turned in the highest team finish, taking third in the junior varsity/small school race with 84 points. They were led by Paige Headrick, who finished seventh with a time of 16 minutes, 45 seconds.
Allison Payne was 20th in 17:12.73, Jenna Castro 25th in 17:45, Grace Grub augh 32nd in 18:01.26 and Maris Tuck 74th in 19:20.43 were the Cardinals varsity’s other scoring runners.
Quintin Collins led the Cardinals junior boys team to a seventh-place finish overall, placing fifth in 13:23.77. He was followed by Benjamin Henry in 29th at 14:17.82, Kyler Castro in 55th in 14:57.26, Alex Dunay (106th) and Marcos Vaamonde (135th) in scoring.
“Quintin Collins ran the fastest time for the team and ran the most aggressive race,” Blankenship said.
Victor Long led the senior boys to a 12th-place showing, finishing 29th in 13:55.18, with Jeremiah Windle (14:18.44, 39th), Thomas Collins (71st), Eduardo Garza (141st) and Urijah Taylor (168th) contributing to the scoring. Jaden Nelson (175th) rounded out the seniors squad.
Reid Headrick had the highest individual finish for Medical Lake, placing third in the freshmen boys race with a time of 13:50.90. Angel Mendez finished eighth in the sophomore boys competition with a time of 14:07.22.
Blankenship singled out several Cardinals for team accolades, naming Paige Headrick and Thomas Collins “Competitors of the Meet.” Cardinal pins went to Long, Mendez, Reid Headrick, Alex Dunay, Maya Eberhard and Mia Thompson while one-time “special caps” went to Maris Tuck and Connor Palmen. “Workers of the Week” awards went to Tuck and Collins.
Medical Lake continues its large-meet preseason schedule this Saturday, traveling to Walla Walla Point Park in Wenatchee for the Wenatchee XC Invitational.
John McCallum can be reached at jmac@cheneyfreepress.com.
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