McNary runners surpass personal bests at Albany race

The McNary High School cross country team ran hard at Albany’s Harrier Classic meet on Saturday, Oct. 4.

Around 60 schools competed in the contest, with teams from the 1A to 6A classifications.

A dozen Celts surpassed their personal best times in the event, according to the team’s online page. They include Ken Bailey, Gideon Carpenter, Ayden Crespo, Jude Cupp, Titus Marquez, Samuel Carpenter, Emily Gomez, Avery Lechner, Emily Wood, Kadence Belden, Rachel Wood, and Lucca Batsell.

Senior Kailyn Lechner was the only Celtic to land in the top 10 of a race, finishing third for junior and senior girls in the 5,000-meter race, with a time of 21 minutes and 9 seconds. Her personal record for that race is 20 minutes and 5 seconds.

Jocelyn Schnurbusch finished 14th in the varsity girls’ 5,000-meter race with a season’s best time of 19 minutes and 17 seconds – just 10 seconds slower than her personal best time.

The Celts compete this Friday, Oct. 10, at Portland’s Rose City Championship Invite. Races start at 4 p.m.

Hayden Claypool competes in the girls varsity division of The Harrier Classic cross country meet in Albany on Saturday, Oct. 4. (STEVE SCHNURBUSH/For Keizertimes)

Garrett Clack competes in the boys varsity division of The Harrier Classic cross country meet in Albany on Saturday, Oct. 4. (STEVE SCHNURBUSH/For Keizertimes)

Gideon Carpenter of McNary recovers after competing in the boys junor-senior division of The Harrier Classic cross country meet in Albany on Saturday, Oct. 4. (STEVE SCHNURBUSH/For Keizertimes)

McNary’s Yosef Picazo and Jaxsen Herring compete in the boys varsity division of The Harrier Classic cross country meet in Albany on Saturday, Oct. 4. (STEVE SCHNURBUSH/For Keizertimes)

McNary’s Carrington Boyko competes in the junior-senior division of The Harrier Classic cross country meet in Albany on Saturday, Oct. 4. (STEVE SCHNURBUSCH/For Keizertimes)

Mason Bowlby of McNary helps get the pack out of the starting line in the junior-senior division of The Harrier Classic cross country meet in Albany on Saturday, Oct. 4. (STEVE SCHNURBUSCH/For Keizertimes)

McNary’s Kailyn Bollman-Lechner competes in the junior-senior division of The Harrier Classic cross country meet in Albany on Saturday, Oct. 4. She finished third. (STEVE SCHNURBUSCH/For Keizertimes)

News tip? Contact reporter Riley Ellis: [email protected]

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