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Raider Cross Country returned to race action on October 4th at Kettle Falls where they ran in the CAN-AM Invitational hosted by Colville High School with 20 other schools in attendance.

Eleven Raider boys and four girls competed in the races on Saturday. For some Raiders this was their first race of the season or for their careers.

“Our team is improving in their conditioning,” Coach Gary Darnold said. “We just need to continue to work and our team scoring will improve.”

Ray Yazzie led the Raider Varsity team by finishing 62nd overall with the time of 19 minutes, 49 seconds, a season personal record at the 5k distance.

In his first race of the season Robert George also PR’d, coming across second for the Raiders in 69th at 20:10.

Next, at 21:03.01, Cole Trotter crossed the finish for 78th overall. Trotter’s time was a two-minute improvement at 5k over his previous best.

Will Friedlander came across the line at 21:26 for 83rd, cutting his career PR by over 90 seconds. Cameron Tillman finished 87th overall in 21:57, also improving his career PR by 90 seconds.

Kaden Trotter crossed the finish line in the boys varsity race in 22:12, placing 88th. Trotter is the most improved Raider boy for his 4:24 improvement in his career PR time.

In the girls’ combined race, Loryn Moore led the Raider girls, coming across the finish line at 21:35 for 18th place. Moore improved on her PR time by 1:50.

Kayla St. Pierre came in next for the Raiders for 44th in 23:09.44, an improvement of 2:36 and a career best.

In her first-ever high school race, Alyssa Oates came across third for the Raiders in 89th place in 28:04. Also in her first high school race, Kianna Sam finished in 31:43 for 103rd.

Five Raider boys ran in the JV race in Kettle Falls: Edmund Fenton finished 76th with in 23:26. Quincy Williams came in 78th at 23:44; Bradley Wilder, 87th, 25:49; Aidan Derr, 89th, 27:44. Braxton Hernandez, 90th, 27:46.

Last night the Raiders travelled to Omak for the Omak Invite to race against about 12 area schools.

The race at Quincy that had been scheduled for Saturday has been cancelled, so the Raiders will not run again until Oct. 18 at the Oroville Invite at Lake Osoyoos State Park. Raider races starting with boys JV at 12:30 p.m.