By Randy Parks
Burns Times-Herald

In their final tune-up for the district meet, the Hilander cross country teams competed in the Baker Invitational on Thursday, Oct. 16.

Kara Davis led the Burns girls team over the 5K course, finishing second with a personal best (PB) time of 21:33. Anna Clemens placed fourth for the Hilanders (21:43 PB) and Brianna Cunningham was fifth with a personal record (PR) time of 22:14.

Kate Stewart of Union was the overall individual winner (21:28), and Baker won the team title as they were the only complete team in the race.

In the boys race, Devan Attleberger was the top finisher for Burns, placing 11th with a time of 18:46. Kraig McCanna placed 13th (18:57 PB), Brendan Palmer 19th (20:13 PR), Ralph Caldwell 26th (20:30 PR), Tyler Rowley 28th (21:05 PR), Nathan Drushella 35th (21:35) and Josh Walters 46th (26:44).

Union won the boys team title with a perfect score of 15, and the winning runner finished with a time of 17:17.

The Hilanders’ team “Gut It Out” awards went to Davis and Walters.

Burns will travel to Pendleton this Friday, Oct. 24, to compete in the district meet.

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On Tuesday, Oct. 14, the Burns cross country teams hosted the Burns Invitational, a rugged 5K race that wound through the hills behind Burns High School.

Cy Swartzlender of Lakeview won the boys race with a time of 18:33, leading his team to a first-place finish in the standings as well with 20 points.

Burns placed second with 41 points, followed by Madras with 72.

Attleberger was the top finisher for the Hilanders, placing third with a time of 19:41. McCanna finished sixth (19:49) and  Palmer set a new personal record (PR) with a time of 20:19 while finishing seventh. Caldwell came in 12th (21:09 PR),  Rowley 13th (21:58 PR),  Drushella 15th (22:04), Truman Mallon 23rd (26:29 PR), and Walters 27th (29:40).

The Burns girls team was incomplete and didn’t qualify for the team standings, but all three runners finished in the top seven.

Cunningham was the first Hilander to cross the finish line, finishing fourth with a time of 23:17 (PR). Davis finished fifth, just three seconds behind Cunningham and Clemens placed seventh (23:33).

Lakeview won the girls team team title with 22 points, followed by Madras with 33.

Ashley Baldovino of Lakeview placed first in the individual standings, finishing with a time of 20:58.

The Hilanders’ team “Gut It Out” award went to McCanna for running a sub-20 minute race on a very difficult 5K course.