A year ago, Crater's girls cross country team finally took down perennial powerhouse Summit by ending the Storm's streak of consecutive state championships at 15.
The Comets' chances to repeat their 5A title in 2025 appeared to take a hit in the summer, though, with a season-ending foot injury to senior Reese Garnica, the team's No. 3 returning state finisher.
“That started out the year kind of on a downer,” coach Justin Loftus said of losing Garnica, the 1,500-meter 5A runner-up in track. “Reese was going to be one of our leaders.”
Midway through the season, Crater appears to be adjusting just fine. Junior Brynn Davenport, who has the top time in 5A this season, leads a deep lineup that is gelling nicely.
“It's pretty close now between us and Summit,” Loftus said. “It just depends on how we compete when we get there.”
With the graduation of Emma West (fourth at state last year), Davenport (sixth at state) is the team's top returning runner. Coming off a summer in which she clocked 16:56.11 in the 5,000 meters at New Balance Outdoor Nationals, she has emerged a top contender for the 5A title.
“I hate to project how things are going to finish, but she's as good as anyone we've ever had right now,” Loftus said of Davenport, who holds Crater 5K freshman and sophomore records. “It's just staying healthy and getting to the finish line. She's totally locked and excited.”
Davenport opened the season by pushing Lincoln's Ellery Lincoln in the 3,000-meter junior class race in the Night Meet at Wilsonville, finishing as runner-up by five seconds.
In her next big test, Davenport was the top Oregon finisher (third overall) in the prestigious Nike Portland XC Danner Championships at Blue Lake Park on Sept. 26.
She clocked a personal-best 17:32.0 to beat her top 5A rivals – North Eugene senior Cricket Phipps (17:43.7), Caldera junior Maddie Carney (17:52.0) and Summit senior Sophia Capozzi (18:09.6). Carney and Capozzi placed ahead of Davenport in the 5A championships last year.
Davenport's performance came six days after she competed in the elite Woodbridge Classic in California.
“It was a short week for us,” Loftus said. “Just being at Woodbridge, most of our kids were pretty flat. But she competed well. I think she's got more, though, for sure.”
Davenport, Phipps, Carney and Capozzi appear to have separated at the top of 5A. Davenport will race against Carney in the Crater Twilight Invite on the track Oct. 20. Davenport will face Phipps in the Midwestern League district meet Oct. 29.
“Those four kind of pop out. They're all super talented,” Loftus said.
Crater's other top returning state placers are sophomore Mari Dunlap (11th) and juniors Grace Havniear (21st) and Haddie Barsalou (27th). Dunlap, who placed 30th in the Danner meet, has the No. 7 time in 5A this season.
“Mari is right there with Brynn in her development, just a year behind,” Loftus said.
Freshman Ava Ontiveros (No. 20 time in 5A) has provided a boost in the absence of Garnica (18th at state last year).
Crater has opted to forgo running in the Rose City Championship Invite on Friday at Rose City Golf Course in Portland. Summit is entered in the meet.
“It would be nice to match up with some of the best teams, but we also would just like to get healthy,” Loftus said. “It was a hard discussion with the girls. We want to go up to Rose City and crush it, but it's like, OK, let's look at the whole rest of the year.”
The Harrier Classic
South Eugene junior Yosuke Shibata, one week after beating reigning 6A champion Malachi Schoenherr of Sheldon in the Danner Championships, won The Harrier Classic on Saturday at Bryant Park in Albany.
Shibata finished first out of 240 runners in 14:56.30, turning back North Eugene junior Ashenafi McKinnis (15:07.89), Sheldon senior Benjamin Kehrein (15:20.73) and Thurston senior Carson Buergey (15:28.13).
Buergey is the only Oregon runner to beat Shibata this season, edging him in 6A/5A division of The Ultimook Race on Sept. 6 in Tillamook.
North Eugene's Cricket Phipps was the girls winner in 18:14.23. Dallas senior Kelsey Rodli (18:22.44) and South Eugene freshman Evangeline Johnson Hess (18:27.78) were next.
South Eugene won the boys and girls team titles.
Three Rivers/Pacific Crossover
Tigard junior Paul Hretcanu was the top boys finisher in a crossover meet between the Three Rivers League and Pacific Conference on Oct. 1 at Clackamas Community College.
Hretcanu recorded a time of 15:30.51 to beat McMinnville junior Isaiah Carpenter (15:34.65) and West Linn junior Leo Brown (15:35.13). Sherwood, led by junior Kole Norman (fourth-15:49.76), outscored Lakeridge 59-83 for first place.
Tualatin junior Lauren Gerlach won the girls race in 17:51.67, well ahead of West Linn sophomore Eleanor Wyatt (18:19.54) and Lakeridge senior Grace Houlihan (18:38.00). West Linn scored 51 points to beat runner-up Sherwood (60).
jerryu@osaa.org
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