XC: Channel League gets new look with Clark, McClure

Dos Pueblos' Hunter Clark was tops at the Channel League's second race.

Dos Pueblos’ Hunter Clark was tops at the Channel League’s second race.

 

San Marcos’ Natalie McClure and Dos Pueblos’ Hunter Clark reigned supreme at the second Channel League cross country meet of the season on Wednesday at Arroyo Verde Park in Ventura.

Neither winner placed in the top three at the league’s first meet three weeks ago.

Natalie McClure - San Marcos

San Marcos’ Natalie McClure, right, runs side by side with teammate Erica Schroeder, left. (Photo Credit: Carla McClure)

Clark bettered his previous 4th-place result by crossing the finish line of the 3-mile course in 16 minutes and 33 seconds. Buena’s Andrew Witt wasn’t far behind at 16:38, followed by teammate Logan Otten in 16:48.

McClure, a transfer from Dos Pueblos, won in her debut race for the Royals. The junior was timed at 19:03 and edged former teammate Christina Rice, the winner at the first league meet, who was clocked at 19:12.

RESULTS: VARSITY GIRLS || VARSITY BOYS

Ventura won the boys team competition for the second time and the boys standings were exactly the same as the first meet. Garrett Reynolds, the boys individual winner at the first meet, did not race.

On the girls side, however, San Marcos leaped past Ventura to win with 26 points. Ventura, racing without Sofia Ramos and Paige Kosche, was second with 52 points.

It’s reportedly San Marcos’ first team win at a league meet in many years. The Royals had all five scorers in the top 10. After McClure, Erica Schroeder placed 3rd, Lee Al-Atracqhi in 5th, Mya Adornetto 8th and Kendra Dayton in 9th.

Logan Briner was San Marcos’ top boy, netting 7th overall.

Clark led the Chargers team to third in the standings with 55 points. Josh McGregor (8th) and Nathan Alvarez (10th) posted strong results as well.

Senior Will Walter (25th) and freshman Ally Garza (19th) were Santa Barbara High’s fastest runners for the second straight league meet.

The next and final Channel League race is Thursday, November 5 at Camino Real Park.