Vikings sweep Huskies

SUTTER >> In an unconventional year that witnessed many stoppages, high school cross- country in the Northern Section was still able to take place — albeit about half a year later than normal.

On Friday, the Sutter High cross-country teams hosted its senior day against upper-division foe Pleasant Valley, a program that the Huskies would not normally meet up against.

But this is not a normal year and both teams said they were looking for competition that met the COVID-19 guidelines for reopening.

“Sutter was a great one for us,” Pleasant Valley coach Vince Phipps said. “There was somebody to compete with throughout the race.”

PV has a fairly deep and dominant cross-country team this year with many of the fastest boys and girls in the section.

Still, on the girls’ side, Sutter battled the Vikings to a close fivepoint loss, 30-25 on a course that PV had never been to before.

“Sutter is the best competition we have seen,” Phipps said.

Phipps’ lead pack, sophomore Chloe Alchin and senior Evelyn Allen went one-two respectively. Alchin’s winning mark of 21 minutes, 12 seconds was slightly over her personal best, 20:36 for the year.

Allen crossed in 21:34 to grab second.

Sutter’s top duo, Mackenzie Ritner and Perla Martinez finished off their PRs for the year as well, with finishing times of 21:41 and 22:04, respectively to grab third and fourth place.

Varsity boys

In the boys’ race, PV went onetwo-three in all sub 18 minutes to lead the Vikings to an 18-37 win over Sutter.

Renton McGregor won in 17:08, followed by Mark Velazquez-Patino (17:25) and Tryon Jardin (17:48).

PV has two races left beginning next week on March 3, followed by its finale on March 13 against rival Chico.