FORT BRAGG — This is one high school sporting event the great Northern California heat wave of 2022 could not touch, with a big assist from the coastal influence provided by the Pacific Ocean.
With temperatures well over the 100-degree mark inland Wednesday throughout the Redwood Empire, the cross country teams from Kelseyville, Cloverdale and Fort Bragg opened their season in Fort Bragg where the high was a pleasant 68 degrees.
Kelseyville was originally scheduled to host the meet, but it was later moved to Cloverdale. With Cloverdale’s temperatures soaring this week along with most other locations around the North Coast, the meet was moved a final time to Fort Bragg where the heat index wouldn’t be an issue.
Only three Kelseyville runners participated although the Knights should have many more runners in uniform Sept. 14 when they host Lower Lake and Clear Lake.
Alex Fordham finished fourth among varsity boys with a time of 23 minutes, 33 seconds on the 2.9-mile course where Chris Island of Fort Bragg topped the field in 18:48.
Lillian Bailey of Fort Bragg won the girls race in 24:48. Kelseyville’s Ashley Hobbs came in 11th in 27:54 and Alyna Boyd was 16th in 36:16.
Two other season-opening North Central League I tri-meets were canceled Wednesday because of the excessive heat. They involved Lower Lake and Middletown at Roseland University Prep in Santa Rosa, and Willits and St. Helena against Clear Lake (at Highland Springs, just south of Lakeport).
