Everett, WA – On the warmest day of 2021 the Everett Trojan Cross Country program hosted Edmonds College and Whatcom CC in a tri-meet at McCollum park. The 58 degree race start temperature was in stark contrast to when this meet was originally scheduled back on February 13th and was postponed due to snow and icy conditions.
The women's 5k led off with much anticipation between the top runners from Edmonds, Everett, and Whatcom. Christina Savenkova from Edmonds was undefeated through two meets to this point in the season, topping Arlyce Harlan of Whatcom by 12 seconds the weekend prior, and defeating Avery Daniels of Everett back on February 20th by 8 seconds.
Savenkova started out leading the field in the first 1,000 meters with a secondary pack of Harlan, Daniels, and Arella Rihn of Edmonds. Savenkova would hold her lead through the duration of the race, and while Daniels was able to close the gap in the last 500 meters, the Edmonds standout finished with her season best of 19:01.49 and cruised to her 3rd win of 2021. Daniels was not far behind finishing in a strong 2nd with a time of 19:07.5 setting a new PR and placing her 19th on a prestigious Everett CC cross country program history 5k all time list.
Freshman Johanna Schmidt saw her first racing action of the year and posted a respectable time of 25:56.25. Caelyn Foster was a late scratch and did not race.
The final meet of the year will be next week on March 24th at Legion Memorial Golf Course in Everett, WA and will feature all six NWAC northwest region schools. Athletes to watch in that race will be Moira Woods of Green River with a season best of 19:00.6, Christina Savenkova with her best of 19:01.49, and Avery Daniels with a season best of 19:07.5
The men participated in their first 8k race of the year, a standard distance that is typical for collegiate men's cross country races, but due to a slow return to training and COVID-19 protocols all races to this point have been of the 5k distance.
Roberto Aguilera of Whatcom has dominated all season long and once again separated himself from the rest of the pack finishing with a time of 27:37.87. Freshman Ryan Barene ran strong for the Trojans finishing 6th overall and posting a time of 30:49.06 and teammate Tyler Buck came in 11th with a time of 35:05.16.
The Trojans are hoping to get all five team members back in the final meet of the season to compete for a team score. Five schools will be represented in next weeks 8k race at Legion Memorial Golf Course in Everett, WA.
