LOWER LAKE — John Dedmon and Kelsey Welton anchored strong performances by the Middletown High School varsity boys” and girls” cross country teams on Wednesday during a four-team meet at Anderson Marsh State Park in Lower Lake.
Middletown”s boys finished with 42 points to edge out Santa Rosa Christian (44) and Willits (45) in team scoring. Middletown”s girls placed second to Sonoma Academy, 30-42.
“We had Jeremy back and that made a huge difference,” Middletown coach Cia Dedmon said of one of her two sons that run for the Mustangs, junior Jeremy Dedmon, who was making his season debut.
John Dedmon, a senior, placed third overall in the varsity boys” race, covering the 2.63-mile course in 15 minutes, 24 seconds. Kenny Smith of Willits set the early pace and finished first in 14:13. Only Santa Rosa Christian”s Zach Nave stayed close to him (14:23).
“I think it”s Kenny”s year,” Dedmon said of Willits” top runner. “He”s getting faster and faster.”
Jeremy Dedmon placed sixth in 16:35, 12 seconds ahead of the seventh-place runner, Middletown”s Chris Nance.
A light rain fell just as the boys” race began and thunder and lightning greeted the runners just as the race ended.
“We got out of there pretty quick,” Dedmon said of the tree-filled Anderson Marsh course.
Varsity girls
Santa Rosa Christian”s Faith Hall won by more than two minutes in the varsity girls” race, winning in 16:50.
“She pulled away from the beginning,” Dedmon said.
Middletown”s Kelsey Welton was the next to finish (19:13) and Santa Rosa Christian”s Noel Hosler came in third (19:30).
Besides Welton, three other Middletown runners placed in the top 10. Tasha Gibbs was fifth overall (21:08), Thea Olson came in ninth (22:41) and Alyssa Fusek was 10th (22:51).
“I was really happy with how all my boys and girls ran,” Dedmon said.
Middletown travels to Willits on Wednesday.
