MIDDLETOWN — Madax McDowell broke his home course record and the Middletown Mustangs turned in strong efforts all the way around Wednesday during an eight-team Coastal Mountain Conference cross country meet in Middletown.
McDowell broke away from the lead pack at the 2-mile mark on the 2.94-mile course and pulled away for a first-place finish of 18 minutes, 37 seconds.
“He”s been running faster every meet,” Middletown coach Eric Olson said of the junior. “He”s been pouring it on.”
McDowell crossed the finish line six seconds ahead of Kelseyville”s Tiko Landa (18:43), who led at the 1-mile mark.
Also cracking the top 10 were Kelseyville”s Juan Flores, fourth in 19:04; Kelseyville”s Steven Peters, fifth in 19:09; Middletown”s Cassidy Parker, sixth in 19:35; Middletown”s Jake Tangermann, eighth in 19:42; and Middletown”s Elliot Serena, ninth in 19:49.
Middletown defeated Kelseyville 21-32 in team scoring while Lower Lake beat Willits 21-38.
Zef Roofener led Lower Lake with a 13th-place finish of 20:31.
“I have never beaten Willits,” Lower Lake coach Laura Hutchinson said. “I was so excited.”
Varsity girls
Madison Provost (21:11) and Catherine Wharton (22:10) of Rincon Valley Christian ran one-two in the varsity girls” race. Middletown”s Tori Roderick finished third in 23:53, one of five Mustangs to crack the top 10.
Placing sixth through ninth, all from Middletown, were Kylie Ruggio (26:53); Ashley Thompson (27:15), Carmen Sandoval (27:34) and Alana McSween (27:46).
“I”m just happy to have them out there,” Olson said of his girls” squad. “They get better every year.”
Middletown had the only complete team (minimum five runners) in the girls” division.
JV boys
Josh Riboli of Point Arena broke the course record in the junior varsity boys” division, winning in 19:22. Middletown”s Diego Munoz ran shoulder-to-shoulder with Riboli through two miles before taking a spill on the course that cost him precious seconds. He ended up second in 20:24.
Rounding out the top five were Middletown runners Johnny Nance (21:29), Connor Smith (22:40) and Peter Sullivan (22:42).
Paul Mainville led Lower Lake with a ninth-place time of 24:11.
Middletown had the only complete team in the JV division.
Other schools taking part in the meet were Technology High School of Santa Rosa and Calistoga.
Middletown returns to action next Wednesday in Upper Lake and will score against Cloverdale. Lower Lake visits Willits and will score against St. Helena.
