HIGHLAND SPRINGS — Only 12 runners participated in a North Central League I cross country meet Wednesday afternoon at the 3.28-mile Highland Springs course just south of Lakeport, with the Clear Lake Cardinals hosting the Lower Lake Trojans and Kelseyville Knights.
Clear Lake and Lower Lake had two runners apiece while Kelseyville fielded eight runners, including a complete boys team.
Boys
Lower Lake’s Jose Hernandez won his third race in as many weeks, completing the hilly Highland Springs course in 21 minutes, 57 seconds, more than two minutes ahead of Kelseyville runners Travis Boyles and Alex Fordham, who made an all-out dash for the finish line while battling for second place. Boyles (24:23) edged out Fordham (24:24).
Three other Kelseyville runners — Triton Marlowe (25:18), Kenneth Olson (26:17) and Evan Macklin (28:07)– rounded out the top five while the Knights’ Joshua Fossa came in seventh in 32:30.
The victory for Hernandez follows his win a week ago on the Six Sigma Ranch and Winery course near Lower Lake, and a victory two weeks ago at Fort Bragg.
Girls
Clear Lake’s Hannah Garrity didn’t have her best day of the season, but the junior still ran an easy first in a small girls field of five runners, finishing in 25:47. Lower Lake’s Hadia Rippa came in second in 36:24, Clear Lake’s Lilianna Cruz was third in 36:40, and Kelseyville’s Alayna Boyd (40:18) and Ari Fossa (40:19) placed fourth and fifth, respectively.
Schedule
Clear Lake hosts Fort Bragg and Middletown next Wednesday in the final race of the regular season. Kelseyville is home against Willits and Roseland University Prep while Lower Lake and St. Helena visit Cloverdale.
