Westlake shines in home cross country meet
Falls to Huntingtown, L-town
After navigating the reconfigured, slightly shortened course at Westlake High School on Oct. 10, a quintet of Huntingtown High School girls cross country runners were quick to beam about their narrow victory over Leonardtown.
In recent years Huntingtown has been slightly overshadowed by talented squads from Northern and Leonardtown, but this year the Hurricanes are quietly emerging as the team to beat at the upcoming Southern Maryland Athletic Conference cross country championships, courtesy of its depth, talent and youth.
Leonardtown sophomore Nelle Ray completed the 2.7-mile course first in 17 minutes, 29.49 seconds, but Huntingtown runners (12-1 overall) claimed the next two spots and four of the top six to edge the Raiders (11-2), 24-31. Westlake (1-8-1) did not have enough runners to score.
Through the first mile of the event, Huntingtown sophomore Oakley Olson (17:47.91) stayed within relative striking distance of Ray, virtually serving as her shadow on the primarily flat course. But Ray was finally able to shake loose from her nearest pursuer in the last half of the event and sprinted clear to record her best time of the season.
“I was a little surprised that she was staying so close to me early,” Ray said. “I didn’t expect her to go out with me early and force the pace, but I felt good the last part of it and I was really hoping to break 18 today. So, I was really happy with my final time. I’m hoping to win SMAC and then hopefully win states. I learned my lesson last year at states — don’t run the first mile in under six minutes.”
Ray may have garnered the individual honors on Oct. 10, but Olson and a trio of her youthful teammates — Mary Gorman is the lone senior — were excited about edging the Raiders for the team title.
Huntingtown junior Conor McGirr (16:38.77) won the boys portion of the race, but Leonardtown runners captured three of the next four spots and the Raiders edged the Hurricanes, 26-30.
Leonardtown (9-4) defeated Westlake, 15-50, while Huntingtown (8-5) downed Westlake (5-5), 15-49. Despite winning by nearly 15 seconds on Oct. 10, McGirr hardly seemed content with his performance.
Westlake’s Charlie Ucles (18:31.98), Artez Jones (19:24.83) and Maurice Anderson (19:25.53) were seventh, ninth and 10th against Huntingtown and took eighth, ninth and 10th against Leonardtown. Wolverines’ Andrea Lizano (25:54.18) and Courtney Schaefer (26:45.39) finished 30th and 31st overall to lead the girls.