LHS cross country runners are giving it their all as they prepare for the end of their season. The boys varsity team is currently ranked as 6th in state for 6A schools, and the girls are currently ranked 14th.

In the recent meet between the TRL and the Pacific league, boys varsity placed 2nd and girls placed 5th for the 5k, both out of 13 teams. JV girls placed 3rd and the boys placed 4th.

For the 5k at the earlier Ultimook meet, boys varsity placed 2nd and JV placed 4th in their division for the 5k. Girls varsity and JV both placed 3rd.

Championship meets are coming up soon. TRL districts are on Oct. 29 at Clackamas Community College, and the state meet is Nov. 8.

Running a 5k for cross country can take a long time. Grace Houlihan currently holds the season record for varsity girls at 18:00.3. Ash Carlson holds the season record for varsity boys at 15:16.5. During these races, runners have to push themselves the whole time.

“When we get into, like, the really nitty gritty and it just starts to hurt all over and we just want to quit, I typically think about what my teammates are doing right now, and how they’re really working hard,” said Carlson. “I know they’re not going to give up on me for any reason, so then I’m not going to be the one to give up on them.”