MCKINLEYVILLE — Members of the Upper Lake High School cross country team took part in the annual Clam Beach Invitational on Saturday near Clam Beach in McKinleyville.
Owing to the course configuration, spectators were able to see the runners come by them four times. Runners were allowed to run without shoes, if they desired, on the flat sands of Clam Beach. The weather also cooperated as it was a fogless and windless morning. However, the course did present a few obstacles as the sand was extremely soft in places and the waves often forced runners to move farther inland to avoid them.
Junior varsity runners completed on a 2-mile course and varsity runners on a 3-mile course.
Amos Burns set a personal-best time, the only Upper Lake runner to do so, finishing in 23 minutes and 43 seconds. Michael Diggs had the best time among the two-man Cougar varsity boys” contingent at 20:47.
In the varsity girls” run, Ashley Burns finished in 25:24 and Thonyoon Chao came in at 31:14.
Mary Tucker was the only Upper Lake runner entered in the JV girls” race (time not provided).
In the JV boys” division, Charlie Coburn finished 18th out of 115 runners in 12:58. Mike Dolan wasn”t too far behind at 13:30, Vanefwee Chao finished in 14:32, Aaron Burns passed 10 opponents over the final 300 meters to finish in 15:24, and Ben Raetz clocked in at 15:37.
Team members camp-ed out Friday night at Patrick”s Point State Park. Following the race Saturday, the team traveled to Humboldt State for a tour of the campus and athletic facilities. The team had lunch in Eureka before returning home.
