Following nearly two weeks off for the Oakdale High School cross country team, the boys and girls competed in a pair of races this past week. On Thursday, Sept. 14 the teams headed to Eagal Lakes in Tracy for the first Valley Oak League Meet.
Sophomore Kayden Legan finished fourth in the varsity girls three mile race. She finished the course in 20:58. Junior Paris Thompson placed 15th in the same race at 23:36. The varsity boys had two top 20 finishers in the three mile run. Senior James Forkner placed 12th at 18:02 and senior Russell Pabalan came in 20th at 19:01.
For the junior varsity girls Kaitlyn Dickson placed fourth in the three mile run. The senior crossed the finish line at 27:37. Senior Arturo Verduzco came in 10th place for the junior varsity boys. Verduzco finished the race at 21:46. The freshman and sophomore team had Hannah Guthrie place seventh (16:45) in the two mile run for the girls and for the boys Seth Borba placed fifth overall at 13:15.
“We performed okay today. It was our first meet of the season and we have a lot of room for improvement and I believe the kids will definitely take this as a learning lesson and get better,” coach Guy Fowler said.
Saturday action saw the teams head to the Calaveras County Fairgrounds for the Frogtown Invitational. The varsity girls team finished ninth overall in the Large School Division. Taking 19th place was Kayden Legan at 22:37 in the three mile. Paris Thompson placed 27th at 23:17. The varsity boys placed 12th overall. James Forkner came in 24th place at 18:29 and Ben Miller crossed the line at 19:48 earning 68th in the three mile run.
“The teams are continuing to learn and improve,” Fowler said.
The next meet for Mustang cross country is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 23 at University of Pacific for the UOP Invitational, with a start time of 10 a.m.