Columbia Gorge News
www.columbiagorgenews.com
Wednesday,February24,2021
13
SPORTS
Gorge distance runners increase workout
pace anticipating first meets
Petshow
■ By For Joe
Columbia Gorge News
running at the youth level, in
part as an elementary school
physical education teacher in
Hood River. The Eagles have
In a strange way, the late
one of the deepest programs
Arthur Lydiard probably
in the state, at any enrollment
would have appreciated at
level. For example, in 2019,
least one consequence of
HRV’s eighth through 14th
COVID-19. Lydiard, who is
runners would have qualified
considered by some as the
for the Class 5A state meet
most influential distance
as a team (based on dis-
running coach of all-time,
was an advocate of training
trict-meet times), by finishing
vs. racing, especially at the
a close second to The Dalles.
youth level. Lydiard was
The Riverhawks also ben-
quoted as saying, “Encourage efit from numbers in their
kids to enjoy running and
distance running program,
play in athletics. Don’t
headed by Thouvenel, the
force them to run too much
dean of conference coaches
competition.”
(now in his 53rd season).
Well, Arthur, we’ve got you The Dalles has had either a
covered on the competition
boys or girls team compete at
part — at least during the
the state cross country meet
past year. Competitive run-
every year starting in 2013.
The Riverhawks return four
ning, or head-to-head com-
of their top seven runners
petition of almost any type,
has been nonexistent, as per off of last year’s girls district
a pandemic. Virtual compe- runner-up team.
“They have been running,”
titions are commonplace,
thanks to technology, where Thouvenel said of his core
runners use global position- group. “Well, about three of
ing systems to register times. those, they haven’t stopped
But that may change soon, as for the most part. … Some
COVID restrictions ease and of the better kids at all the
high school coaches resume schools, are still going.”
The Columbia girls were
official practices which in-
14th at the 2019 1A WIAA
clude in-person racing.
state meet in Pasco, Wash.
The six-team
Columbia qualified for state
Intermountain Conference,
for example, which includes after finishing third in the
Trico League meet and third
The Dalles and Hood River
in the 1A District IV meet.
Valley, will hold dual meets
to coincide with COVID pro- Coach Michael Hannigan’s
tocols (that limit the number girls team has finished third
or better the past five district
of people at gatherings).
meets, including back-to-
“Starting March 3, every
back runner-up finishes in
school will have five meets,
2016 and 2017. Columbia
if they choose to do that,”
Brandon Bertram, HRVHS’s head cross country coach, talks with a runner. Bertram, a Westside Elementary physical education teacher,
will be looking to fill its top
said The Dalles Coach Bob
has worked to develop runners at the grade school and middle school levels.
Kirby Neumann-Rea photo/file
three varsity spots, as those
Thouvenel. Race schedules
runners from the 2019 state-
are a moving target at this
meet team have graduated.
point, and district and state
competitions are up in the
air, but students are slow-
foot injury his junior year. He LaCenter
Gorge Boys Team
was third at the IMC district
2017 1. Montesano; 2.
ly returning to (physical)
Outlook
meet as a sophomore in 2018. Columbia
classrooms and, thusly, the
Diego Contreras followed up
2018 1. Columbia; 2.
practice fields.
The Dalles boys edged
his district runner-up finish
Montesano
Hood River and The Dalles Crook County and Hood
with a 10th-place showing at
2019 1. Columbia; 2.
are scheduled to race March River for the 2019 district
the 5A state meet in 2019.
LaCenter
10 at Sorosis Park in The
cross country title, the first
Lockman, a senior, has
Boys District Cross
Dalles.
for Thouvenel, he said, in
Country Titles
“For the first time in a
more than 20 years. “We were been Columbia’s No. 1 or 2
runner the past two seasons.
Year — League — Champ
while, parents are frequently trying to remember back
Peck, also a senior, might
2011 Columbia River,
emailing me again, asking
that far,” he said. The 2019
be the best of the group. He
Hermiston
about workouts,” noted
championship is hard to
was runner-up in the WIAA
2012 Columbia River,
Brandon Bertram, Hood
forget, as The Dalles placed
1B/2B state cross country
Hood River
River Valley cross country
four runners in the top 10 at
2013 Columbia River,
coach. And none too soon,
district, led by the runner-up meet a year ago. He may have
Hermiston
he added. Athletes have been finish of freshman Juan Diego to wait until track and field
starts to add to his running
2014 Columbia River,
able to train on their own,
Contreras.
resume. Trout Lake decid-
Hermiston
but the camaraderie aspect
Hood River saw its string
2015 Columbia River,
of high school sports cannot of successive boys state-meet ed it will not field a cross
be emulated virtually. “It’s al- team appearances end at
country team this season – in Hood River
2016 Columbia River,
part because of requirements
ways a concern when young seven in that district meet,
Hood River
where the Eagles finished
forcing athletes to wear
athletes step away from the
2017 Columbia River,
third — one point behind
masks while running, accord-
team energy” part of sports,
Crook Country. Bertram said ing to Steve Allaway, athletic Hood River
Bertram said.
2018 Intermountain,
Many runners have stayed his team is hungry to start
director.
Crook County
in shape through school-run a new streak. “We’re always
Chloe
2019 Intermountain, The
conditioning sessions or ath- aiming at an IMC champi-
Bullock, Lucy
Dalles
Hennessy
lete-led workouts. “They’ve
onship,” he said. “We have
Nick Caracciolo of The Dalles High School finishes a cross coun-
Girls District
and Amelia
been working out three
a young boys group and
try race. The Dalles and Hood River cross country compete in The
Cross Country Titles
Huxtable of
nights a week since the first
they’ve got the sauce.”
Dalles March 10.
Year — League — Champ
Hood River,
of the year,” Thouvenel said
Columbia competed in
2011 Columbia River,
and Hanna
about many of his runners.
the 1A WIAA state meet in
Ziegenhagen Hood River
Prep distance runners in
2019, finishing 12th as a
Cross Country Meets Involving Gorge Teams
2012 Columbia River,
the Gorge enjoy at least one
team. Four of the seven Bruin Chloe Bullock and Fonetia
Duyck of The Hood River
advantage over their state-
competitors that day were
(As of Feb. 21; meets are tentative, schedule is subject
2013 Columbia River,
Dalles are
wide peers: A seemingly
underclassmen, including
to change)
Hood River
among the
endless number of scenic
No. 2 and 3 runners, Jacob
Feb, 27: Columbia at Seton Catholic, Vancouver.
2014 Columbia River, The
top returning
training routes, many far re-
Lockman and Thomas
March 3: The Dalles at Crook County; Hood River at
Dalles
girls run-
Pendleton.
moved from the clutter of ve- Ziegler. Those two were the
2015 Columbia River, The
March 6: Columbia at White Salmon Invite.
hicles and other distractions. top Columbia runners at the
ners. Bullock
Dalles
2019 1A District IV champi-
March 10: Hood River at The Dalles.
Gorge runners also benefit
was fifth at
2016 Columbia River,
March 13: Columbia at Trico Championship.
from experienced coaching
the 2019
onships, which the Bruins
March 17: The Dalles at Pendleton; Hood River at
staffs, a fact that might not
district meet; Hood River
won at Lewis River Golf
Hanna
2017 Columbia River,
Ridgeview.
be evident in the day-to-day Course in Woodland, WA.
Hennessy
Ziegenhagen improved
Hood River
March 20: Columbia at District 4 meet, Vancouver.
grueling nuances of hill work,
Columbia, LaCenter and,
2018 Intermountain,
March 24: The Dalles at Ridgeview; Hood River at
repeat 800-meter runs, and
her personal
more recently, Seton Catholic
Hood River **
Redmond.
interval ladders. But it’s hard in Vancouver, WA., have
best by more than a minute
2019 Intermountain,
March 31: Redmond at The Dalles; Crook County at
to ignore results.
and half at the 2019 5A state
consistently led the league
Hood River
Hood River.
A Hood River, The Dalles
meet; and Huxtable was the
and district team competi-
** Also won the 5A state
April 7: IMC open date, TBD.
or Columbia cross country
runaway winner in the IMC
tion. Columbia has won the
title
April 10: The Dalles at Oregon City Invite
team (girls or boys) has won past two district team titles
district junior varsity race -
Gorge Cross Country
at least one district champi-
with a time that would have
and four of the past six. The
Boys Returners
placed her eighth in varsity
onship every year since 2011 Bruins have finished either
(5000 meters, 2019, athlet-
competition. Ziegenhagen
(see breakout box this page). first or second at district
Shane Pearson, TL, 17:17.8
Lucy Hennessy, HRV,
In 2019, the last year Oregon since 2014 (see breakout box leads The Dalles returners,
ic.net)
having placed seventh as a
Josiah Sohal, HCS, 17:23.9 19:53.0
this page).
high school cross country
Justin Peck, TL 15:59.8
junior at district, two spots
Joshua Humann, HRV,
Amelia Huxtable, HRV,
was held, each school won a
Juan Diego Contreras, TD
ahead
and
nine
seconds
fast-
17:23.9
19:56.1
district crown: Columbia and
16:00.4
Gorge Individual
Gorge Cross Country
Fonetia Duyck, TD, 20:06.0
The Dalles boys, and Hood
Josh Haynes, HRV, 16:24.0
er than Duyck, also a senior.
Outlook
Girls Returners
Mieka McKnight, HRV,
River girls.
Elliot Hawley, HRV, 16:27.1
(5000
meters,
2019,
athlet-
20:18.4
Jack
Grim,
HRV,
16:35.4
Among the top individual
Cross Country
Myana Stock, TL, 20:28.4
Nick Caracciolo, TD,
Gorge high school boys run-
ic.net)
Gorge Girls Team
Run Down
Kate Pauly, HRV, 20:55.6
16:40.4
Chloe Bullock, HRV,
ners are Josh Haynes of Hood
Outlook
Clara Parkinson, HRV,
Mason Stock, TL, 17:05.5
19:24.8
River Valley, Diego Contreras
Washington Boys District 4
20:57.7
Jacob Lockman, Col.,
Hanna Ziegenhagen, TD,
of The Dalles, Lockman of
Cross Country
The Hood River girls have
Izzy Simpson, HRV, 21:02.
17:11.0
19:26.4
Columbia and Justin Peck of
Championships
been the dominate high
2014 1. Columbia; 2.
school cross country program Trout Lake.
Haynes, a senior who will
Eatonville
in the Gorge the past decade.
2015 1. Forks; 2. Columbia
The Eagles won the past four run next fall at University of
Columbia Gorge News
2016 1. Columbia; 2.
district titles and seven of the Montana, was hampered by a
past nine, qualifying for the
state championships each
year. The Dalles won the
other two district champi-
onships, in 2014 and 2015.
Coach Bertram has
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