LOWER LAKE — Charlie Coburn of Upper Lake and Miriam Lane of Middletown are the new county cross country champions after winning their respective varsity races on Wednesday during the annual Lake County Meet at Anderson Marsh State Park in Lower Lake.
Coburn”s Cougars also won the team title, a first for Upper Lake”s infant cross country program, which is in only its second year of existence under coach John Woods. Lane, a first-year runner for the Mustangs, beat her veteran teammate, Kelsey Welton, to the finish line in the varsity girls” race. Middletown also won the team title, placing six girls in the top eight.
The team title in the junior varsity boys” division went to Clear Lake, which had the only complete squad. Josef Hoeck of the Cardinals dominated the field, completing the 2.63-mile course in 19 minutes, 35 seconds.
Kelseyville High School, which recently replaced its coach, did not participate in the meet.
“There were no problems,” said Lower Lake head coach and meet director Andrew Carpenter, who said everything ran smoothly for the annual meet.
“I was really kind of happy with the way it turned out,” Carpenter said.
Even the weather cooperated as the 62 competing runners were treated to a seasonably warm but not hot late summer afternoon.
“The heat doesn”t sap you as much on this course because there is a lot of shade on different parts of the course,” Carpenter said. “It”s a fast course and a fun course.”
Varsity boys
Coburn scored an impressive 24-second victory over teammate Michael Dolan in the varsity boys” race, finishing in 16:03. Chris Nance of Middletown stayed up with Coburn and Dolan most of the way before falling back to third place (16:30). Ben Mullin of Upper Lake (16:43) gave the Cougars three runners in the top four, and Jarrod Rudy of Middletown rounded out the top five.
“How strong is that, one, two, four?” Carpenter said of Coburn”s, Dolan”s and Mullin”s finish for the Cougars.
Thomas Cano had the top time for Clear Lake, placing ninth in 19:45, one second ahead of teammate Erik Hagberg.
Varsity girls
Lane and Welton were the only runners in the varsity girls” field to finish in less than 20 minutes. Lane led the way at 19:38 and Welton was second in 19:50. Ashley Burns of Upper Lake came in third in 20:35, and Jessica Henson of Clear Lake followed in fourth place at 21:41.
“You could see it coming,” Carpenter said of Lane”s victory over Welton. “It was building for the last 300-400 yards.”
JV boys
Hoeck led a parade of Clear Lake runners to the finish line in the JV boys” race. Following him across were teammates Kyle Donald (20:22), John Glazier (21:12) and Jean Tritchler (21:15). Middletown”s Adrian Mecedo (22:16) rounded out the top five.
