Taft cross country making major strides

Taft High runners Cesar Fajardo, Chance Haun and Preston Nightingale placed fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively, and the Lady Tigers unveiled a squad large enough to post a team score for the first time in four years Friday to lead the school’s growing cross country program in the Kiwanda Challenge at Pacific City.

Nine teams — Delphian, Faith Bible Christian, Nestucca, Riverdale, Santiam, Sheridan, Taft, Vernonia and Willamina– competed in the wind and rain as Alma Aguirre, Olivia Williams, Lydia Prins, Alani Cabal and Ivy Anderson teamed to comprise enough female runners to help the growing program on the girls’ side.

Dawson Wood, Eli DeMello and Ean Wood placed in the top 15 for the boys.

Riverside was the boys winner, with Taft second.

Photos by SportsLincolnCounty.com contributing photographer Eric DeMello