Oak Harbor accepts challenge in Oregon / Cross country

The Oak Harbor High School cross country team made its yearly trip to the Three Course Challenge at Camp Rilea at Warrenton, Ore., Saturday, Sept. 21.

The event, hosted by Seaside High School, attracted 90 high school, middle school and club teams and featured 1,992 finishers.

High School teams split their athletes into groups which ran in one of three courses — easy, moderate or hard.

The Wildcats’ best showing came from freshman Adrienne Root, who finished seventh (18:47) out of 227 over the 4,500-meter easy course. Paige Jenkins was 92nd (23:59).

Sadie Harbaugh took 74th (27:25) out of 198 over the 5,000-meter moderate course, while Jessica Aguilar finished 150th (31:08).

Junior Evelyn Osburn paced Oak Harbor on the 5,000-meter hard course, nabbing 45th (26:37) out of 167. Courtney VanGiesen was 132nd (32:02).

On the boys side, sophomore Cooper Billiter ran the easy course in 15:56, good for 14th out of 316. Ryan Metz was 31st (16:51).

Freshman Jacob Pearson led Oak Harbor over the moderate course, taking 54th out of 319 in 20:53. He was followed by Miles Erickson (58th, 21:01), Luke Turner (226th, 25:54) and Andrew Lof (298th, 29:46).

Senior Brandon Parham posted the best time for the Oak Harbor boys over the hard course, 22:14, good for 74th out of 301. Anthony Herrera was 126th (23:40), and Liam Pope took 130th (23:45).

The Wildcats will join Lake Stevens, Snohomish and host Mountlake Terrace at Ballinger Park at 3:45 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25.