Terrence Ordonez runs through the gulch, part of the course at the Mt. Baker Invitational. Coach Jeff Sowards describes it: Its like running through a pretty sharp ravine, probably about 10 or 12 feet deep, so you have to run down and run right back up. Its unique. You dont find that on every cross country course. Our kids seem to do fine with it. -
Terrence Ordonez runs through the gulch, part of the course at the Mt. Baker Invitational. Coach Jeff Sowards describes it: Its like running through a pretty sharp ravine, probably about 10 or 12 feet deep, so you have to run down and run right back up. Its unique. You dont find that on every cross country course. Our kids seem to do fine with it.

Cougars enjoy cross country tradition at Mt. Baker


August 28, 2008 · Updated 12:12 PM 

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MT. BAKER In one of the great Lakewood cross country customs, the team traveled to Mt. Baker to race in their Sept. 29 invitational.
According to coach Jeff Sowards, the booster parents traditionally go up the night before to prepare for a big team feed. In a new twist, though, the Lakewood Middle School team accompanied their elder counterparts.
The meet is a team favorite and it showed in the results.
Overall, we told the kids that it was the best boys and girls, top to bottom, JV, varsity, freshmen, everybody the best weve done at that meet, Sowards said.
The boys took fourth place overall, anchored by a sixth-place finish by Nick Devier, whose 15:34 time put him in good company with division-rival Burlington-Edisons Josh Simpson and 30 seconds behind 4A state track champ Joey Bywater.
He found his new place to be at in races. Hes not afraid to race with anybody in the state, Sowards said. He was a little under the weather, but ran really tough in the second half of the race when he could have bailed out and called it a day. He ran hard to the finish and ran a very good time.
Another runner who stepped up to have a great race was junior Lacey Nation, whose 20:18 finish in the 5k was more than a minute faster than her time at South Whidbey Invite earlier this season. Nation was the first Cougar girl across the finish line, edging senior Sarah Dunn by 10 seconds.
She finished 50th overall.

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