September 21, 2005
Fresh off a second place finish at the Skip Sparks Invitational last Wednesday, the Hood River Valley High School girls varsity cross country team posted more personal records Saturday on their way to a first place finish at the annual New Balance Invitational in Monmouth.
The varsity girls finished first out of 15 teams and the varsity boys finished ninth out of 16 teams.
“The girls competed well, especially for their second meet of the week,” Coach Kristin Uhler commented.
And for the second time this week, every girl on the team posted a new personal record.
With several very fast and coachable young runners on the team, the varsity girls are looking toward a realistic shot at district and state titles.
“All the girls are very committed to the team and to improving every meet. We’re working on the little things, like proper warming up and warming down. It’s the little things that separate the average teams from champions.”
Uhler’s goal is to pack the team’s scoring runners (runners 1-5) to within one minute of each other at the finish line.
“Packing is how teams win meets,” said Uhler.
Although complete results from the meet were not available as of press time, two of the top three runners from the girls varsity division were Eagles. Newberg runner Sarah Boyd finished first, followed by Erin Jones and Melissa Kauffman. Last week at the Skip Sparks Invitational, Kauffman finished fourth in 19:40 and Jones finished fifth in 19:57. The two swapped on Saturday, with Jones finishing second overall in 19:15, followed closely by Kauffman at 19:18.
Ashley Braniff, Melissa Princehouse, Hillary Hilden, Jenna Fisher and Janne Lucas completed the varsity seven.
Next up for Eagles cross country is the Seaside Invitational on Sept. 23-24.
New Balance Invitational
Boys results (16 teams)
1 Tigard 75
2 Wilsonville 122
3 Sunset 139
4 Tualatin 153
5 Westview 158
9 Hood River 231
Girls results (15 teams)
1 Hood River 80
2 Skyline 100
3 Wilsonville 140
4 Westview 144
Individual girls’ highlights
1- Sarah Boyd, Newberg,
18:53.2; 2- Erin Jones, Hood
River, 19:15.7; 3- Melissa
Kauffman, Hood River,
19:18.7.
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