By Jeremy McDonald

jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com

WILSONVILLE, Ore.—McKay opened the 2016 season with an appearance in the Wilsonville High School’s Night Meet.

Though delayed an hour due to heat, the heat didn’t slow the competition on the flat and fast course that saw several Royal Scots PR Friday Night.

“We had quite a few people PR,” said Head Coach Arch Zellick. “We’ve got a lot of young kids and I thought they handled themselves really well and they got a look at what they’re potentially capable of later.

“And I’m hoping that could be a kick in the butt for them to really start training well and  start committing, which will be great.”

At this meet, 44 teams were in attendance ranging from 6A Schools like McKay, North Salem, West Salem and South, all the way down to schools like Stayton, Oregon Episcopal and Santiam Christian.

“We love things like this.” Said Zellick “we do this, we do the Portland Nike Cross Country Meet will is like a 100-something teams from like ten States.  We really like these ones, they’re a nice chance from our league meets and it’s a lot of fun to get them into a big group and let them loose.”

Erick Brambila, who finished 53^rd in the 3K Junior race with a time of 10:42.3, knows that there’s an intimating factor with all the talent that is out there.

“Honestly it can get intimidating because you know that there’s a lot of teams out there,”said Brambila.  “And that there’s State Qualifier teams here, I mean we have like some of the best people in the Nation competing against us today.

“But honestly, I feel like as long as know in our hearts and as long as we keep a positive attitude.  We’re good.”

Though she had an off day in the Senior 3K race, Marquite Ritchey knows that this positive attitude, this mojo, they’ve built after this first meet, will help them entering two meets this upcoming week.

“Just keep the team positive, do the best we can, cheer each other on,” she started.  “Cheer other teams on.  Build up the bonds with other teams, that’s what keeps us pushing.”

Some notables from Friday’s Cross Country meet for McKay include Bryan Lopez finishing 60^th in the freshman boys race (11:48.6).  Freshman Sable Underwood finished 42 in the female novice race with a 15:39.1 time.

Hanna Caldwell added another Scots Top 50 finish with a 12:50.0 time in the sophomore race while Jesse Garcia finished 56^th in the junior’s race and Victoria Orduno finished 66^th in the senior 3K race.

All Stats are available at http://www.athletic.net/CrossCountry/Results/Meet.aspx?Meet=113520#/269 and as for McKay, it’s on to the GVC League Preview Race on August 31 at Crystal Lake Sports Park.

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Some Pictures from Friday’s meet (Pictures By Jeremy McDonald)