Jesuit junior Jacob Nenow (83) won the John Payne/Curtis XC Invitational. (Photo by Jon Olson)
Jesuit junior Jacob Nenow (83) won the John Payne/Curtis XC Invitational. (Photo by Jon Olson)

Ranked No. 2 in the most recent OSAAtoday 6A boys cross country poll, Central Catholic sent a message to top-ranked Jesuit on Saturday.

The Rams travelled all the way to Fayetteville, Ark., to compete in the massive Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival and came away with a boys team title in the El Caliente 5K, defeating Grapevine (Tex.) 72-80. Grapevine was ranked No. 3 in the most recent DyeStat national rankings; Central Catholic was unranked.

Rams senior Max Girardet claimed the individual victory in 14:55.5, while junior Wes Shipsey was third in 14:56.6. Central Catholic placed all five scoring runners in the top 42 overall, with a 63-second gap; Julian Kingery (15th in 15:38.8), Charlie Black (24th in 15:46.5) and Garrett Mackey (42nd in 15:58.7).

Central Catholic’s girls team finished a strong seventh out of 50 teams. The Rams were led by sophomores Ella McGillis (fifth in 18:04.0) and Zoe Rector (13th in 18:37.0).

Not to be outdone, the Jesuit boys, ranked No. 5 in the nation, traveled to Chambers Creek, Wash., and dominated the 25th John Payne/Curtis XC Invitational, placing all seven runners in the top 13. The Crusaders scored 21 points, with a 28-second gap, to easily outdistance perennial Washington power Gig Harbor’s 106. 

Jesuit had the top three finishers, led by junior Jacob Nenow in 15:24.8, ahead of Gus Clevenger (15:30.6) and Caden Hildenbrand (15:34.6). Josh Augustine (seventh in 15:48.5) and John Schuler (eighth in 15:52.7) completed the scoring for the Crusaders.

The Jesuit girls, ranked No. 7 nationally, made their presence felt as well. Washington-bound Chloe Foerster won by more than a minute in 17:16.0 and the Crusaders took the team title with 20 points, ahead of Gig Harbor (81) and Central Kitsap (87).

Jesuit had all five scoring runners finish in the top nine overall: freshman Emma Bennett (second in 18:16.9), freshman Maura O’Scannlain (fourth in 18:28.1), junior Natalie Jack (fifth in 18:39.5), and junior Maggie Bennett (ninth in 19:10.3).

A look at other meets last week:

Baker Invite, at Baker City Golf Course, Friday

Girls -- La Grande sophomore Emily Tubbs ran to victory in 20:31.55, leading three Tigers in the top six overall. Freshman Cecilia Villagomez was third in 21:16.61 and sophomore Faith Calhoun was sixth in 21:37.31.

Team Scores (Top 4): Weiser (ID) 53, Parma (ID) 62, Union 70, Baker 75.

Boys -- Enterprise seniors Zac Knapp, first in 16:15.34, and Bayden Menton, second in 17:28.51, led five Outlaws in the top 13 overall to win the team title over Union. Pine Eagle senior Caleb Brown was third in 17:31.06. Union was led by junior Taylor Fox, fourth in 17:38.76, and sophomore Eli Williams, fifth in 17:45.48. 

Team Scores (Top 4): Enterprise 32, Union 54, Parma (ID) 97, Burns 106.

Flat & Fast Invitational, at Joe Dancer Park in McMinnville, Friday

Girls -- Grant swept the boys and girls team titles at the Flat & Fast Invitational. Union sophomore Charlotte Wilson claimed individual victory in the girls race in 19:00.00 over Tigard junior Lillian Herman (19:04.70), Southridge junior Erin Cosgrove (19:06.60) and Lakeridge senior Ainsley Williams (19:19.70).

Team Scores (Top 4): Grant 53, Tigard 78, Union 90, Hood River Valley 117.

Boys -- The Dalles junior Juan Diego Contreras won handily in 15:36.80 over McMinnville junior Kyle Spencer, 15:58.50. Westside Christian senior David Dugan was third in 16:07.10, ahead of Hood River Valley junior Elliot Hawley, fourth in 16:13.10.

Team Scores (Top 4): Grant 71, McMinnville 83, Hood River Valley 114, The Dalles 133.

Oxford Classic, at Rockridge Community Park in Bend, Saturday

Girls -- The Summit girls, ranked No. 4 in the nation, ran without two of its top runners and still placed five runners in the top six places to dominate at the Oxford Classic. Junior Ella Thorsett ran to victory in 18:25.55, ahead of senior Maggie Williams (18:25.93), sophomore Payton Finney (19:11.12) and senior Ashley Boone (19:11.47). Ashland senior Grace Yaconelli was fifth in 19:18.27, while senior Jorun Downing completed the scoring for the Storm in sixth (19:31.44).

Team Scores (Top 4): Summit 16, Hermiston 59, Ashland 76, Bend 116.

Boys -- The Summit boys completed the sweep with a one-point victory over South Medford, as all five scoring runners placed in the top 15 overall. Nampa Christian (ID) senior Grady Mylander got the win in 15:24.31, holding off South Medford senior Michael Maiorano (15:25.97). Senior Jackson Keefer led the Storm in third (16:00.58), ahead of Ashland junior Nathan Stein (fourth in 16:04.99) and Ridgeview senior Finn Anspach (fifth in 16:08.95). 

Team Scores (Top 4): Summit 40, South Medford 41, Mountain View 86, Bend 141. 

The Harrier Classic, at Bryant Park in Albany, Saturday

Girls -- Crescent Valley freshman Emily Wisniewski continued her impressive season with a convincing victory in 17:37.94 and South Eugene won a close team battle over Corvallis. Lakeridge sophomore Breckyn Kornachuck was second in 17:50.98 ahead of Sprague senior Sara Abbott in 17:53.39. Axe freshman Ansley Johnston was fourth in 17:58.73 and North Salem senior Isabel Swain was fifth in 18:10.22.

Team Scores (Top 4): South Eugene 65, Corvallis 72, Crescent Valley 117, Lakeridge 140.

Boys -- Milwaukie junior Logan Law won a fast race in 14:43.20 over South Eugene senior Asher McKinnon, 14:48.24 as Crescent Valley eked out the team win over South Eugene by two points. The Raiders were led by senior Henry Coughlin, third in 14:56.16. The Sheldon duo of senior Ben Collins and junior Jonah Donde were fourth and fifth, in 14:57.84 and 14:58.91.

Team Scores (Top 4): Crescent Valley 69, South Eugene 71, Sheldon 113, Lakeridge 128.

Woahink Lake XC Invitational, at Honeyman State Park in Florence, Saturday

Girls -- North Medford placed four runners in the top eight places to outdistance 4A powers Philomath and Siuslaw for the team title. Philomath freshman Adele Beckstead outdueled Siuslaw senior Rylee Colton for the win, 20:04.70 to 20:05.10. Newport senior Aliyah Larsen finished third in 20:30.40 and North Medford junior Estella Gutches was fourth in 20:43.60.

Team Scores (Top 4): North Medford 43, Philomath 51, Siuslaw 75, Roseburg 89.

Boys -- Siuslaw picked up the team title without its top runner, Samuel Ulrich, as senior Chad Hughes stepped up to get the individual victory in 17:00.50, ahead of Philomath junior Brody Bushnell (17:18.90). Vikings junior Kyle Hughes finished third in 17:19.20 and Newport senior Sam Laurel was fourth in 17:27.70. 

Team Scores (Top 4): Siuslaw 62, Nampa 78, Philomath 85, Roseburg 88.