GEORGE — On Thursday, multiple Basin cross country teams competed in the fifth annual Live Nation Invitational at the Gorge Amphitheater. Mavericks oach Larry Dagnon called the venue one of the more unique races they seen all season.   

“I think other than the Leavenworth Invitational, as far as for climbing and things like that, you're not going to get many areas that host that have just the ruggedness of what we're going through,” Dagnon said.   

Dagnon said the Mavericks had a strong showing at the Gorge. The boys finished 10th overall in the boys’ 5,000-meter race. Harrison Holt was their top runner after finishing 37th and an 18:33 time. Right behind Holt, Parks Whitaker had an 18:38 time and Allen Robinson had an 18:45. Freshman Gabriel Cabiao and seniors Layden Griffith and Ben Bishop followed behind with sub-20-minute finishes. Isaac McClendon rounded out the Mavs boys with a 20:24.   

The girls finished fourth overall in the same race. Dagnon said Freshman Emilie Bong had a breakout performance. She finished 11th overall with a 21:30 time.   

“Emily is brand new to this sport. She has only been doing it since June. She didn't do it in middle school,” Dagnon said. “The second she stepped out there, we immediately saw talent in her. She got into that seventh spot about two weeks ago, and I really think she's probably going to hold on to it with how she's running.”   

Setting a personal record Thursday, Amelia Olascon finished 24th at 22:32. A feat that left Dagnon impressed.   

“Millie's crazy, no one comes to the Gorge and PRs, we've had her on flat courses, and here she comes out on the hardest course we've had all season long, and she runs her PR, and it just shows you the talent she actually has,” he said.   

Khloe Helm, Asia Roueche and Breanna Bischoff rounded out the girls race with sub-25-minute times and top 50 finishes. Heading into this race, Dagnon rested his typical top runners as they have the Nike Hole in the Wall meet Saturday, Oct. 11.   

The Mavericks were able to show off their depth Thursday. Dagnon said he was impressed with how they performed against other schools that had their top runners competing in the race.   

“A lot of teams have to rebuild every year, but with our numbers, we're kind of in that reload mode. We just reload and they just keep going, and that's because of the depth, and that's because we've got such a large team, so we were very lucky in that respect,” he said.   

As for the Warden Cougars, Assistant Coach Kristina Martin said they’ve been working through illnesses and injuries, which kept varsity runners out of the Gorge meet. However, the Junior Varsity group was given the option to compete or rest since they also had a race earlier in the week. They stepped up to the challenge.   

“They showed a lot of grit and resilience, and it was awesome. They were excited to do the race, and they poured their heart into it, and you can't ask for more than that, especially with the conditions that we've been under the last little bit. They had smiles on their faces afterwards. I think they had a great time out there.” Martin said.   

Kiley Huber finished 59th in the girls JV 5,000-meter race with a time of 30:04.35. Not far behind her was Anna Marcus in 73rd with a 33:18.08 time. On the boys' side, Enrique Gutierrez ran a 40:39.95 in the boys JV 5,000-meter race.   

Aside from trying to do their best individually, Martin pointed out a moment of sportsmanship shown by Gutierrez. When he was pushing through the race, he was encouraging a fellow competitor from Omak.

“He had learned the name of the competitor behind him, and he yelled out to him, ‘Go, you've got this,’ just the fact that he had learned this kid's name, and he was so adamant that we needed to cheer for him. That was a really special moment yesterday,” Martin said.  

Looking ahead, the Cougars compete in an Eastern Washington Athletics Conference meet on Oct. 15 as they push into the final stretch of the season.

After competing at the Nike Hole in the Wall Invitational on Oct. 11, they will prepare for a Big Nine meet on Oct. 21, hosted at Blue Heron Park.   

    Natalie Ottmar (3444) keeps pace during the girls junior varsity 5,000-meter race. Head Coach Larry Dagnon said the Mavs’ got to show off their depth in this race.
  

    The Cougars’ Anna Marcus (3764) during the girl's junior varsity 5,000-meter race. Assistant Coach Kristina Martin said the JV team showed a lot of grit and resilience in their races at the Gorge on Thursday.
  

    Mavs junior varsity runners Sena Loiseau (3439) and Morgan Holt (3436) turn the corner during the girls JV 5,000-meter race.