WILLITS — Running through the redwoods near Willits proved to be an enjoyable task for the Clear Lake cross country teams on Wednesday as they all scored Coastal Mountain Conference wins over the host Wolverines on the 2.87-mile Brooktrails course.
Clear Lake”s varsity boys won 24-33 while the varsity girls and junior varsity boys beat incomplete Willits squads.
Also competing were Cloverdale, Kelseyville, St. Vincent and Calistoga.
Varsity boys
While Cloverdale”s Joe Carrillo was winning the varsity boys” race in 15 minutes, 13 seconds, the fourth-fastest time ever at Brooktrails, Clear Lake”s Brice Beare was spearheading a strong effort by the Cardinals with a sixth-place time of 18:19.
“A good, steady run,” Clear Lake coach Peter Stanley said of Beare.
Beare trailed teammate Jake Blue for the first two of three loops on the Brooktrails course before forging in front near the 2-mile mark.
Blue ended up 11th at 19 minutes flat, just seven seconds in front of teammate Ryan Hodges (19:07), who moved up from the JV squad.
Clear Lake”s fourth finisher was Jose Estrada at 19:38.
“Jose ran real well,” Stanley said.
Varsity girls
Erin Thomas of Mendocino dominated the field in the varsity girls” race, winning in 20:29. Clear Lake”s Kelsie Lawson, fresh off her win in the 10k Vineyard Run for Literacy on Sunday at Steele Wines between Kelseyville and Lakeport, nailed down second place at 21:57.
“I”m full of admiration for Kelsie,” Stanley said of Lawson”s strong effort.
Lawson finished 11 seconds in front of Mendocino”s Anabelle Carpenter.
Tamara Rojas was the next Clear Lake runner to finish, taking ninth overall in 23:52.
“Another good race for Tamara,” Stanley said.
Also for Clear Lake, Crystal Wilcox finished 14th in 27:22, Miranda Wanzer was 15th in 27:36, and Taylor Kruszewski was 16th in 27:40.
“I”m pleased with her being such a steady runner,” Stanley said of Wanzer. “She doesn”t slack off and she doesn”t miss practices.”
JV boys
Josh Tate of Clear Lake won the JV boys” race in 18:20, easily beating runner-up Matt Baker of Cloverdale (18:45).
“He”s a small, well-muscled kid,” Stanley said of Tate. “He amazes me.”
Clear Lake”s Christian Vander Jagt and Kenyon Donald battled it out for fifth place, Vander Jagt winning in 20:20 to Donald”s 20:30.
“He beat out Kenyon in a man-to-man race,” Stanley said. “He was our fourth JV runner last time. He”s showing the benefits of his work.”
Clear Lake”s Josef Hoeck rounded out the top 10 at 21:47.
Kelseyville times were not reported.
The Cardinals are off until a week from today when they travel to Petaluma to race St. Vincent.
