By Jeremy McDonald
Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
LEBANON, Ore.– The three runner crew of Stuart McLaughlin, Harper Stoops and Elias Piercy paced the field as they paced each other.
The goal was 16:30. They hit that range with McLaughlin coming in at 16:28.7, winning the District Title, Stoops finished at 16:29.2 to finish second and Piercy at 16:46.8 for third place.
“It feels really good knowing that we’re in it together and push each other, it’s great,” said McLaughlin.
“I got two great role models here (in McLaughlin and Stoops) to help push me along, it’s great to be out here and run with them,” adds Piercy.
They’ve done a similar strategy before this year. Coming out, leading the pack and making those around them come to them. It has worked going into the District Meet and it was successful once again when they needed it the most.
“Me, Stuart and Elias, we all stuck together like this in other races. But this one it was special because we took it out and were leading it,” said Stoops. “But it felt like that all season.”
The Rams went on to win the Team District Title with 47 team points. Winning the event by 27 points.
Other notables include Oregon School For the Deaf’s Jorryn Freeman. The sophomore runner finished 14th in the 2A/1A Special District 2 District Race on Thursday afternoon. The 1A Panther sophomore has been steadily improving throughout the year, and took the next step entering this year from his freshman year last year.
“It was really hard, I tried my best. I tried to pace myself and I got really tired, but felt really good. It was my best race yet,” said Freeman, who ran a 17:44.9.
Crosshill Christian finished second as a Team, finishing District Runner-Up with Ethan Zorn leading the Eagles with a fourth place finish with a 16:55 PR.
Micah Holcomb led the Western Christian Boys Cross Country team with a sixth-place finish as the Pioneers finished third as a team at the District Meet.
Photos By Jeremy McDonald
