Cross country teams compete in first meet of the season

The Weiser Wolverine cross country team hosted the first meet of the season on Thursday, Aug. 3. The team hosted Parma, Fruitland, Homedale and Payette for the traditional rolling hills course.
 Coach Scott Hale shared that the weather made the first race of the season a difficult one for the Wolverines. On top of the heat, the Weiser course is one of the more difficult courses in the state.
 In the mens’s race, Parma’s Dakota Lamb took first place with a time of 19:02.79. Parma took six of the top 10 spots.  
 Weiser’s top runner Ben Hanthorn was in the lead pack with a fourth place with a time of 19:55.76. Charlie Woods finished 12th with a time of 22:47.4. Colton Foster finished 13th with a time of 22:51.15 and Coyler Chandler also finished in the top 20 with a time of 24:07.91. Weiser took third place as team.
 In the women’s division Fruitland’s Emma Hillman took first place with a time of 22:53.32. Parma runners once again dominated eight of the top ten places.
 Weiser’s top runner of the race was Libbie Rynearson who finished fifth overall with a time 26:26.40. Emily Abramsom finished 11th with a time of 28:20.94. Kierra Hoobery finished 14th with a time of 29:35.92. Ellie Eames finished 16th with at time of 29:45.14. Weiser girl’s placed second overall as a team.
 Several of the runners struggled in the heat. Freshman runner, Kendall Rynearson was in second place when running up the last hill, she passed out and collapsed. She walked her way to the finish, but finished at 13th and 29:32.
 “Seeing the determination and hard work of our runners under those conditions was inspiring,” Hale said.