So far the Varsity Cross Country teams have shown that they can hang with the best in the Oakland Activities Association.
In the second OAA jamboree on Sept. 28, the girls placed second while the boys finished third.
Just like previous races, sophomore captain Brooke Kovacic won the event, finishing with a time of 18:53.2, a sophomore record. According to head coach Ray Sutherland, it was the third time she has set that record this season.
Coming in second for the Wildcats was junior Chelsea Johnson, who finished ninth overall with a time of 20:27. Her time gave her the ninth fastest time in Oxford history for the girls.
Following Johnson was junior Brittany Johnson, who placed 13th with her time of 20:36. Her result was the 11th fastest time in Oxford history.
Rounding out the top five for the girls were sophomore Abby Wrobel and senior captain Megan Seeley. Wrobel’s time of 21:23 placed her 22nd, while Seeley finished 30th with a time of 22:00.
The boys finished third in the jamboree. Senior captain Dylan Smith placed second overall with his time of 16:43. His result gave him the 10th fastest time in school history.
Sophomore Ryan Gillespie’s time of 17:24 placed him 12th overall, while sophomore Ross Chapman finished 19th with a 17:42.
Senior captain Curtis Kocher finished 22nd for the Wildcats with a 17:50, followed by junior Alec Smith, who finished 24th with a 17:58.
The Wildcats put on their running shoes and headed over to the Waterford Mott Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 2.
The boys finished second in the event, which was won by Waterford Mott. Dylan Smith was the leading runner for Oxford, finishing with a time of 17:18. Other times for the Wildcats included Gillespie (17:39), Chapman (18:07), Kocher (18:19), Alec Smith (18:37), freshman Noah Jenkins (18:42) and senior Shane Kerbelis (18:57).
The top seven runners for the boys placed in the top 15 and medaled for the Wildcats.
On the girls side, the Wildcats squeaked by Waterford Mott, defeating them by a single point, 31-32.
Kovacic was the leading runner for Oxford, finishing first overall with a time of 19:10. Other top runners for Oxford included Brittany Johnson (20:21), Chelsea Johnson (21:30), freshman Alora McCoy (21:44), Wrobel (22:09), Seeley (22:50) and sophomore Lauren Moloney (23:00).
All seven runners for the girls finished in the top 20 and medaled.
‘I’ve been very pleased our last two races,? said Sutherland. ‘We’ve been starting to group up like we wanted to. We’re getting everything out of our runners (that) we possibly can.?