A cross country newcomer as a junior last year, Lakeridge's Chloe Huyler exceeded all expectations, winning the Three Rivers League district title and leading the 6A championships about two-thirds of the way through the race before dropping out due to illness.
Now Huyler, buoyed by a highly successful track season that included top-10 times in Oregon history in the 1,500 and 3,000 and a commitment to Notre Dame, is ready to make her mark on the trails as a senior.
She got off to a terrific start last week, winning the Three Rivers district preview meet Monday and the Meriwether Classic on Friday, clocking 17:21.1 and 17:12.7, respectively. The latter is the best 5,000-meter time in the state so far this season.
“Having one full year of cross country under her belt, and being able to get more miles in the summer this year, that's all helpful,” Lakeridge coach Scott Spear said. “She just has a different experience level, a different expectation and a great understanding this time around.”
Huyler transferred to Lakeridge last year – along with her twin sister Hannah – from Nevada, where she swept 1A titles in the 1,600 and 3,200 meters as a freshman and sophomore. She also played soccer last year, making the Three Rivers second team as a midfielder. She has opted not to play soccer this fall.
“She's focused on what she's doing,” Spear said.
Last fall, Huyler bounced back from not finishing the cross country state meet to place fifth at the prestigious Nike Cross Regionals the following week. She carried that momentum through the winter and into track, winning the 3,000 and taking third in the 1,500 at the 6A championships. Along the way, she set school records in the 800 (2:14.31), 1,500 (4:23.48) and 3,000 (9:33.15).
She fought through illness in the middle of the track season to finish strong.
“I was really proud of how she responded to not being exactly where she wanted to and still execute really well at the state meet,” Spear said. “It was a fun spring.”
In the Three Rivers preview meet last week at Clackamas Community College, Huyler won by nearly one minute over her sister, who placed second in 18:13.50. Four days later at Meriwether National Golf Club in Hillsboro, the sisters again finished at the top of the 25-team meet, with Hannah taking second in 17:58.0.
Hannah stayed with Chloe through the first mile, clocking 5:21, before Chloe separated. It marked the first time Hannah has broken 18 minutes.
“To be sub-18 in her second meet of the year, that's a little quicker than we thought,” Spear said of Hannah. “I feel pretty confident she can be in the top 10 at state. She's showing she can battle with anybody.”
Lakeridge won the team title at Meriwether, scoring 58 points to beat Tigard (93) and Sherwood (102). Junior Grace Houlihan finished seventh and senior Sigrid Brakenhielm took 23rd.
“To do that in a five-day turnaround, we're really happy with how the whole program did,” Spear said. “We like to have a race every 10 days or so.”
Lakeridge, which took fourth at state last year, entered the season ranked third in the OSAAtoday 6A coaches poll behind No. 1 Lincoln and No. 2 Jesuit, the two-time reigning state champion.
The Pacers will match up with Lincoln and Jesuit on Saturday in The Mook Invite, a 106-team meet at Alderbrook Golf Course in Tillamook.
“That will be a big deal. We'll have a better idea,” Spear said. “I think through four runners we can be pretty close to them. They're so deep at their 5-6-7. And we don't have the same experience that they have.'
Add Meriwether
Led by senior Dylan Weniger, Sherwood finished first out of 32 teams in the boys race at Meriwether. The Bowmen (85) outscored West Linn (133) and Tigard (150).
Weniger, the reigning 6A Pacific Conference champion, won in 15:18.21. He held off Forest Grove senior Sawyer Marquis (15:21.27) and South Eugene sophomore Yosuke Shibata (15:25.00).
Ash Creek Festival
Central junior Ty Cirino recorded the best 5,000 time in the state this season in winning the Ash Creek Festival on Saturday at Ash Creek Preserve in Monmouth.
Cirino, who placed fifth in the 5A championships last year, dominated the race in 15:11.87. He was followed by Central Catholic freshman Brady Lukasiewecz (15:29.51) and Wilsonville junior Liam Wilde (15:32.11).
Wells finished first among 22 boys teams, scoring 72 points to beat Lincoln (75) and Central Catholic (95). Senior Noah Zeitzer finished seventh to lead the Guardians, who placed five runners in the top 23.
North Salem junior Nelida Dalgas won the girls race in 17:24.27. Lincoln had the next three finishers in sophomore Ellery Lincoln (17:43.92), junior Elyse Henriksen (18:01.00) and senior Sophia Malinoski (18:09.45).
Lincoln dominated the 16-team girls race with 31 points, easily topping Wells (79) and West Salem (109).
Silver Falls Oktoberfest Invitational
East Linn Christian senior Daisy Lalonde, the 3A/2A/1A champion in 2022 and runner-up last year, followed her win in the Ultimook Race with a victory in the Silver Falls Oktoberfest Invitational on Saturday at Silver Falls State Park.
Lalonde won in 18:38.6, far ahead of West Albany senior Bethany Doggett (19:21.8) and Santiam Christian freshman Laynee Adkins-Stewart (20:13.9).
Corvallis seniors Cole Fiegener (15:25.9) and Dylan Fiegener (15:47.9) finished 1-2 in the boys race, ahead of South Albany senior Zander Campbell (16:00.1).
Corvallis won both of the team titles at the meet. The girls outpointed runner-up Silverton 62-80 and the boys outscored second-place Silverton 23-65.
jerryu@osaa.org
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