JCT athlete wins districts, sets record

Records were set, and champions were crowned at the 2024 Central 2B League Cross Country Championships in Onalaska on Oct. 24. Local JCT Middle School student Max Ohrberg came away a big winner, with a gold medal and record time to show for it.

Ohrberg set a lightning-quick pace running for the Warriors, winning first in the middle school men's 2500-meter. In a field of 30 runners, Ohrberg finished ahead of the pack and set a JCT Middle School record in the event, posting an impressive 7:56.38 time. Of note, Ohrberg finished a full 13 seconds ahead of the second-place competitor, which was Miles Maxon of Three Rivers Christian, who had a score of 8:09.88.

Other Wahkiakum runners at the meet also performed well. Seventh grader Gage Gifford finished 19th in the meet with a time of 10:57.37. Also participating was sixth grader Jaxx Jordan. Jordan ran a personal best in the 2,500-meter and finished in 26th place with a PR time of 12:34.12.

The Wahkiakum High School cross country team also was represented at the 2B League Championships, with five athletes competing in the varsity men's 5,000-meter. Senior Noah Sandhu finished 9th of the 68 in the field with a time of 19:02.90. Each of the other Wahkiakum runners finished their races with personal records.

Sophomore Cody Vickers ran his best time yet, finishing with a 20:09.18 en route to a 24th-place finish. Junior Caleb Vickers finished within a minute, placing 35th and running the 5,000 meters in 20:52.74, followed by sophomore Hank Wilson. Wilson ran a 21:13.22, which is a record for himself, and was good for 39th. The final participant and finisher for the Warriors was Josiah Garrett, who came in 41st of the 68 participants and capped off a strong day for himself, setting a personal best of 21:25.57.

Wahkiakum will soon compete at the district meet on Wednesday, Oct.30, in Steilacoom. If all goes well there, there will be warriors among the top 35 boys from 1B who will move on to state in Yakima on Nov. 9.