Columbia Gorge Community College (CGCC) is thrilled to announce the successful launch of its inaugural Men's and Women's Cross Country teams. The CGCC Chinooks made their debut at their first meet last Friday, September 27, marking a significant milestone in the college's history as it joins the Northwest Athletics Conference (NWAC).

For the first time since 2014, the girls’ team made the podium at the State Championship, placing fourth at 141 points, just 3 points ahead of fellow Tri-Valley team Crook County.

As the silly string descended on their sweat and rain-soaked hair, the Riverhawk runners took in the moment at the 4A-2 Tri-Valley Conference Championship at McIver Park in Estacada. The memory of last year’s District and State championship had haunted this year’s teams like a specter - and it seemed a new championship was the best way to relegate old expectations to the past.

While the results of the last three weeks have been heady and exciting, The Dalles runners know not to count their riverhawks or districts before they’ve hatched. If anything, their strong showing at the district preview and the 3k tuneup will likely motivate the other Tri-Valley teams to outwork and out-kick them this week.

At the Baker Meet on Sept. 28 - Like the boys’ race, the Riverhawk girls ran consistently, with few personal records- but a notable one-minute improvement for freshman Riley Elliot, who was sporting her mom’s cross country hoodie after the race.

Cross-country runners are, in general, pretty mild-mannered individuals. Polite to a fault, involved in most of the community activities, as comfortable talking with adults as their peers, and signed up for as many honors courses as they could fit textbooks for. It’s always a bit of a surprise, then, when some hidden ferocity comes to light: charging up hills like warriors, arms pumping into a finish or battling (rolling?) through a mud pit...and once finished, wiping the mud off and cooling down.

Fear the Pack: Up to this point, the Goldendale Boys had been undefeated within the EWAC. Regardless, each one knew they were going to need to push themselves in order to secure the coveted first-place team trophy and with it a chance to represent Goldendale in TriCities for the state meet.

It’s human nature to shy away from discomfort and disappointment- although you can learn so much more from a bad or a tough race than you can from a perfect one; it’s better to learn when there are still four weeks until Districts. Tough races are how we grow as runners- and as people.

Pretty has its place. So does grit. And it showed up with the TDHS Cross Country team on Saturday, Sept. 24 in Portland. Labored steps, flush cheeks and draining the tank were common themes as local harriers posted some personal bests.

The Dalles High School Cross Country team went for a run in the mud last weekend in Tillamook. And today, Sept. 8, they host the Bridget Nelson Invitational for the first time at The Dalles Country Club. Races begin at 3 p.m.

Walkers and runners, mark your calendar for Saturday, Aug. 27th as The Dalles Cross Country teams will host the Riverhawk Run/Walk at the Discovery Center at 8 a.m.

Since 1997, Scott Limbach’s 5K record of 15:35 had stood like a challenge - or a taunt - on the high school wall. Juan Diego Contreras obliterated the cross country time on Saturday at Lakewood High School at a smoking 15 minutes, 25 seconds, beating the 24-year-old mark.

With breezy and muddy conditions, very few Riverhawk runners saw their best times at the State Meet in Eugene this weekend, and yet both teams placed significantly better than expected.

TDHS Riverhawks Cross Country had a strong showing at IMC Championships, the boys taking first place. Both teams have made it into the state finals set for Nov. 6. Go Hawks!

Thursday, Oct. 14, was the Intermountain Conference’s “Preview” meet at Birch Creek Golf Course in Pendleton, the same course they will run for districts on the 27th. The competition was formidable, and so were the Riverhawks.

“Diego said it’s a good day for a run,” as he dashed past me on his cool-down, flashing a thumbs up. In typical understatement, the freshmen meant it was a perfect day to try to beat The Dalles’ 5k school record: 15 minutes and 35 seconds. Of 24 TDHS runners, 14 finished with season bests, and 10 with their all-time personal record.