It was over 100 degrees Wednesday afternoon at Midland School, and the Thacher Toads kept cool in the heat to win both the boys and girls competitions in the first Condor League cross-country meet.
Laguna Blanca was second and Cate was third in the girls race, with Cate’s Mackenzie Walsh taking third individually, clocking in at 21 minutes, 17 seconds. Following her were teammates Adrian Walsh (10th, 23:14), Denali Tietjen (16th, 25:58), Cascade Zak (22nd, 26:23) and Lexi Greenwald (25th, 27:01).
Cate finished fourth in the boys race, while Laguna Blanca took third. Michael Hassman’s 31st-place finish in 20:26 led the way, and teammates Spencer McAvoy, Mark Mullan, Joe Gottwald and Bill Pomerans all crossed the line less than 30 seconds later.
Cate hosts the next league meet on Wednesday.
Girls—Thacher 21, Laguna Blanca 70, Cate 74, Midland 92, Dunn 97.
Boys—Thacher 23, Midland 51, Laguna Blanca 65, Cate 120, OVS 136, Dunn 166.
Good start for league ..Thacher has balance through top 5 all within min each other (ranked as high as 4th in CIF poll),Laguna Blanca has best top runner kevin Lunn 1630something alittle off his Ojai pace 1620 win ..
Their second runner Parker Lilly still out expected back ed back and he pushed Lunn at end of season ..
The suprise so far is little Midland smallest school in conference who shocked
than rated (no more) Laguna Blanca for second .
Midland a rural private school in Los Olivos (not Dunn ) has only 92 students this year they have beaten so far Santa Ynez ,Templton ,San Angnes ,and just narrowly lost to Nippomo all schools over 1000 -1300 students .
They’re top 7 runners are all running below 1900 and now have three running below 1800 mid 1700 ‘s , giving them balance of Thacher just wee bit behind among top three ,
At next meet Parker Lilly (Laguna) if back in running shape should finish second to Lunn ,followed
by top two Thacher than top three Midland runners Steiger,Kidd,Patrick (back from illness)bunched around Cambell of Laguna ,Midland next four runners and Thacher 5th runner …Laguna 4 and 5 runners wee bit back in high 1900s .
So on Wednesday next meet Cate ,
Look for Thacher to get much closer win ,with Midland narrowly beating Laguna through balance prediction Thacher 39-41,Midland 45-49 Laguna Blanca 48-51 (even with top two runners in conference )
Cross Country continues to be indidvual race won by teams …Cate rest league are having rebuilding years ..
Good news all three teams have excellent chance of going to State Meet at CIF,first time small Condor league has sent 3 teams ..
Looking Ahead Condor League Top Sophomore Runners …
Next year Kevin Lunn Laguna Blanca and Condor League Top Runner past two years graduates ,Question who is likely to be top runners next two years ?
The League looks to be stronger than ever ..
Heres first take alot more will be learned in next couple meets …
1.Parker Lilly Laguna Blanca ….based on last yr has to be considered top sophomore in League tho injuries and illness has limited his particpation this year ..
2. Will Callahan Thacher 1723 Ojai Meet
3. Evan Kidd Midland 1740 Big Ditch
All three are running very similar times to Lunns as sophomore …
Midland has 4 freshman running under 20 and current 4 and 5 laguna Blanca runners are freshman running low 20s