UPPER LAKE — Charlie Coburn easily won the varsity boys” race as the Upper Lake Cougars beat the Cloverdale Eagles 18-45 in a Coastal Mountain Conference cross country meet on a red-hot Wednesday afternoon in Upper Lake.
Coburn completed the 2.86-mile course in 16 minutes, 53 seconds, 29 seconds ahead of teammate Chris Cisneros (17:22). In a bang-bang finish for third place, Cloverdale Matt Wells (17:41.8) edged out Upper Lake”s Alex Rogers (17:42), and Upper Lake”s Gage DeHeer (18:12) came in fifth.
It was the first varsity race for both Rogers and DeHeer.
“Rogers and DeHeer really came through for us today in the varsity race,” Upper Lake coach John Woods said. “I didn”t tell them that they were moving up until shortly before race time.”
In the girls” race, Beth Maroni of Cloverdale finished first in 21:44 and teammate Yari Sanchez was close behind in 21:52. Third and fourth place went to Upper Lake runners Tonya Bennett (22:55) and freshman Brittany Benner (24:41). Cloverdale”s Whitney Edens rounded out the top five as the Eagles edged a vastly improved Upper Lake team 25-31.
“The girls” team was really tough today and they really held their own against a tough Cloverdale team,” Woods said.
In the JV boys” race, Cloverdale”s Joe Carrillo broke the course record in 15:39. Upper Lake”s Jared Wade was the runner-up in 19:39, three seconds ahead of teammate Giovanni Bautista (19:42).
Upper Lake beat Cloverdale 26-31.
