Jesuit's promising junior-dominated boys cross country team showed a glimpse of its vast potential Saturday in the Nike Twilight Invitational at Cedercrest Golf Course in Marysville, Wash.
The Crusaders placed four runners in the top 14 to dominate the scoring in the 44-team big-school division (4A/3A). Their 59 points put them far ahead of three Washington teams in Seattle Prep (124), Redmond (164) and Central Kitsap (165).
“This has been building for a year-and-a-half,” Jesuit coach Tom Rothenberger said. “We're excited. We think it's starting to come together.”
Juniors Kellen Williams (seventh-15:27.8), Jackson Welsh (eighth-15:34.8), Matthew Wroblewski (ninth-15:36.2) and Brayden Fletcher (14th-15:47.1) led the way for the Crusaders on the 5,000-meter course. Rothenberger said the dominant performance wasn't as much of a surprise as it was “a confirmation of what we know is in there.”
It was the kind of team effort that will spark the team going forward.
“It feeds on itself,” Rothenberger said. “All the workouts, all the talking about what's possible, they have that moment, and it's momentum. It's like, 'We are good. What he's been telling us is coming to reality. He's telling us the truth.'”
The Crusaders have finished in the top two in the last six 6A championship meets, including state titles in 2017, 2021 and 2022. Last year, they finished runner-up to Franklin, 43-85.
Jesuit graduated its top state finisher from last year in Caden Swanson (fourth) but is loaded with juniors who are primed to make big jumps. On any given day, Wroblewski, Williams or Welsh could be the team's No. 1 runner, according to Rothenberger.
“They're all capable on a fast course to break 15 minutes, and that's beginning to show itself,” he said.
Rothenberger said Saturday's times could have been up to 15 seconds faster but the twilight meet was run in darker than usual conditions, due to the season calendar shifting by one week. He liked how his team stuck together.
“We have to learn how to race as a group, and I think this was one of the first times,” Rothenberger said.
The Crusaders had three other runners in the top 10 percent out of 298 finishers: senior Loland Fleming (21st-16:02.7), junior Liam Donnelly (26th-16:09.5) and senior Coen Strub (28-16:10.1).
“We've got the depth to do what we need to do,” Rothenberger said.
Jesuit might have seven runners capable of going under 15:10 on a fast course, according to the coach.
“That's what we know is possible,” he said. “We know it's challenging for everybody to have a good day at the same time, but the fact that we have seven, somebody could have an off day and there are two other guys that could step in.”
The team has shown growth since last year's Nike Cross Regional, when the Crusaders were in third place at the two-mile mark but faltered down the stretch and finished sixth.
“They were a bunch of sophomores, and they just weren't quite strong enough to stay there,” Rothenberger said.
The coach said that the slightly built Williams is an example of how the Crusaders are maturing this season. He has the No. 5 time in the state this season at 15:03.4, well below his best of 15:29.0 from last year.
“He's done his homework, I'll just put it that way,” Rothenberger said. “He's made a big jump, and he's got a couple more big jumps. He has really good talent.”
Jesuit will return to Marysville on Saturday for the prestigious Nike Hole in the Wall Invitational at Lakewood High School. The field will include Idaho powerhouse Coeur d'Alene.
Nike Twilight girls
Lakeridge senior Chloe Huyler added to her season-long winning streak Saturday by finishing first in the big-school girls race at the Nike Twilight Invitational in Marysville.
Huyler completed the course in 17:06.7, comfortably ahead of the runner-up, senior Paisley Taylor (17:25.9) or Meridian (Idaho). Jesuit senior Emma Bennett (17:34.9) and Lakeridge senior Hannah Huyler (17:39.9) were next.
Chloe Huyler has won all four of her races this season. The also took the Three Rivers League Preview, Meriwether Classic and The Mook Invite.
Led by the Huylers, Lakeridge scored 123 points to finish second out of 42 teams. Timberline of Boise was first with 102 points. Jesuit took fifth with 167.
Oxford Classic
Summit and Caldera girls, crosstown rivals and 5A contenders, had another tight battle in the Oxford Classic at Drake Park in Bend on Saturday.
The teams held down the first nine places in the eight-team meet, with Summit outscoring the Wolfpack 28-29 for first place. Last week, Summit edged Caldera by one point for second place in the Nike Portland Invite.
Caldera sophomore Maddie Carney (18:47.0) won the race. Summit junior Sophia Capozzi (19:04.3) was second and Caldera freshman Miley Morical (19:26.8) took third.
Summit dominated the boys meet, outscoring runner-up Cleveland 26-89. Summit senior Hayden Boaz won in 15:32.9, well ahead of Caldera junior Mason Morical (16:05.9).
Harrier Classic
South Albany senior Zander Campbell edged Oregon Episcopal junior Ronan Gantzos by one second to finish first in the Harrier Classic at Bryant Park in Albany on Saturday.
Campbell clocked 15:03.43 and Gantzos finished in 15:04.54. Central junior Aidan Wendring (15:26.34.was third.
Central Catholic (64), Glencoe (93) and South Medford (122) led the way out of 28 teams.
East Linn Christian senior Daisy Lalonde won the girls race, her fifth consecutive victory this season. Lalonde (17:39.48), Westview senior Olivia Gaugel (17:47.90) and Crescent Valley junior Lillian Weiss (17:50.54) were the top finishers.
Westview outscored Crescent Valley 60-64 to win the team race.
jerryu@osaa.org
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