Dayton Gets Feet Wet In Meet

CLARKSTON - The Day- ton cross country team showed it has some work to do at the Asotin XC Island Run Invite last Saturday.

Out of 70 men in the var- sity race, Bulldog Austin Krekula took 35th with a time of 17:45.50. Tim Ihle took 67th place with a time of 22:35.53.

The only Bulldog to compete in the varsity women's race was Kiara Biggar, who placed 46th with a time of 24:52.57. There were 52 women in the varsity race.

The middle school runners outshined their varsity team runners. Zech Bryan placed 26th with a time of 12.06.06 in the middle school boys' race. In the middle school girls' race, Bulldog Alexis Walker placed 13th, with a time of 13.35.96 and Ally Chapman placed 33rd with a time of 17:38.12.

"I think we ran well," coach Dan Nechodom said.

He was happy that five of his six athletes were able to participate and get their feet wet in the world of racing. He said only one of his team members, Krekula, had competed before.

"They did about like I was figuring," he said.

Mastering the art of racing takes time and he knows his young team will continue to improve. He may even pick up another middle school runner who has expressed interest.

"It's going to be a good sea- son," Nechodom said.

The Bulldogs will next com- pete on Wednesday, Sept. 12 in Tri Cities.