Seven female runners advance to Nike Cross National meet

By Thomas Oide,

Bluedevilhub.com Staff–

After a second place finish at the California CIF Cross Country State Championships last week, the DHS womens cross country team received one of four at-large bids to this weekend’s Nike Cross National meet in Portland, Oregon.

The team departed for Portland today.

The trip to Oregon is an all-expenses-paid trip by Nike. The seven members of the DHS team will also receive roughly 800 dollars worth of Nike apparel. DHS will be joined by 21 other schools from all across the nation.

Despite the sheer magnitude of a national championship meet, head coach Bill Gregg is confident that his team is prepared.

“The team has competed in quite a few big meets this season,” Gregg said. “Those meets helped prepare the girls for Nike Cross Nationals. The girls are looking to strike a balance between racing well and enjoying the experience of a National Championship meet.”

“The team is expecting a solid performance,” Gregg added. “However, it’s hard to predict where they will finish in a field of teams from across the country.”

The Blue Devils will be led by sophomore Fiona O’Keeffe, who won the individual state title at last week’s meet.

The meet will take place at a modified horse race track at Portland Meadows, which seats 3000 people.

Even with the National Championship berth, Gregg still thinks that his team can be even better next season.

“I believe the girls team will be even better next year. I hope it means that some of the younger runners will be motivated to train hard and try to make it to the varsity level,” Gregg said.

The DHS mens cross country team did not receive an invite to this weeks meet, but still finished ninth in the CIF State Championships.