KLRR News

LHHS XC Team Kicks off Season with Yearly Watermelon Run

By James Jauss

After 2 months of practice both before and during the season, the LHHS Cross Country team embarked on their Watermelon Run. A yearly tradition that features an instra-squad race separating varsity runners from non-varsity. A challenging course that would prepare them for the meets to come as the Watermelon Run includes steep hills, rocky terrain, and a track finish to help the runners acclimate to varying conditions. The team brought with them 16 runners—10 boys and 6 girls. While most were returning runners from the previous season, there were new faces in the crowd such as Corbin Owens, Cassidy Mangus, and Alyssa Jackson, siblings of past and current athletes. 

With both teams starting at the same time, the race began shortly after spectators arrived. Immediately  the boys obtained a great start on the track and maintained a five man grouping for the first third of the race. Not far behind was Rilee Thunemann, the only senior on the girls team and their star runner. Halfway through the race, Carter and Corbin Owens broke away from the lead group and gained a sizable lead through the first hill, gaining momentum into the finish. Soon after Jake Barrios and Colt Weiss came through the finish with a rough ~10 second gap, and not far behind was Parker Balog and James Jauss who were kicking it down the finish coming in milliseconds apart. Half a minute later, Michael Balog came flying in to solidify the top seven on the boys varsity team. 

On the girls side, Rilee held a sizable lead on her team coming in five minutes before the next runner, Areissy Gallegos who was followed closely by Elizabeth Jauss. With Cassidy Mangus following in a minute later. Then came Alyssa Jackson and Athena Conway to round out the girl’s varsity team. With the entire team looking good ahead of their first meet, spirits were high and the Knights shortly after enjoyed a watermelon feast to officially kick off their season. 

“I’m definitely getting first this year,” said Corbin Owens, who finished first for the Boys Team, hoping for good things to come and excited for his junior year. 

Boys Varsity Times // 

1.  Carter Owens – 20:57
2.  Corbin Owens – 22:32
3.  Jacob Barros – 23:36
4.  Colt Weiss – 23:47
5.  Parker Balog – 24:44
6.  James Jauss – 24:45
7.  Michael Balog – 25:03

Boy’s JV Times //

1.  Luke Pardinas – 26:49
2.  Jason Washington – 30:33
3.  Aldair Rodriguez 

Girls Varsity Times // 

1.  Rilee Thunemann – 26:00
2.  Areissy Gallegos – 31:51
3.  Elizabeth Jauss – 32:13
4.  Cassidy Mangus – 33:35
5.  Athena Conoway – 38:42
6.  Alyssa Jackson – 38:59