Sports - Sports News

POSTED: Friday, Oct. 02, 2009

PREP CROSS COUNTRY: Mount Baker Invite draws area's top teams

Now in its 35th year, the Mount Baker Invitational isn't just the top regular-season meet in Whatcom County during the cross country season, it's one of the top meets in all of Northwest Washington.

No fewer than 38 teams from around the state are expected to participate in this year's race on Saturday, Oct. 3, at Silver Lake Park. Included in that list are Bellingham's St. Paul's Academy and every Northwest Conference school except Nooksack Valley.

"We've always been able to draw a pretty good field," Mount Baker coach Collin Buckley said in a phone interview. "I think it's because this is a true cross country course. It's all in the woods or in a field, plus there are some gorgeous surroundings. There are some areas where you have to be mentally tough as a racer, and there's some definite areas of good spectator appeal."

Chief among that list is the infamous gully - an obstacle midway through the course that forces competitors down a desent at least a story tall and then up an even steeper climb back out.

The gully is even more challenging when rains, which are a definite possibility on Saturday, make the course muddy and slippery.

"We were out there trying the course this week, and there was snow in the foothills around us," Buckley said. "It was wet, but it didn't affect the course much. They were going to mow it (Thursday, Oct. 1), and it was already running pretty fast."

Saturday should provide a good look at some of the top Class 2A teams in the Northwest District and the state, with Sehome, Squalicum, Burlington-Edison and Lakewood all expected to field teams.

"It's hard to believe, but we're getting down to it," Buckley said. "The district meet is only a month away, so this should be a pretty good chance for teams to feel each other out and see where they're at."

In addition to the varsity races, junior high and junior varsity races will be held in the morning, while an open race, hosted by the Greater Bellingham Running Club, will follow.

"We're excited to bring the GBRC back into the fold and get them involved with the open race again," Buckley said. "It makes it a little bit more of a community event."

RACE TIME

35TH ANNUAL MOUNT BAKER INVITE

When: Saturday, Oct. 3

Site: Silver Lake Park, Deming

Local teams: Bellingham, Blaine, Ferndale, Lynden, Lynden Christian, Meridian, Mount Baker, St. Paul's Academy, Sehome, Squalicum

SCHEDULE

10 a.m.: Junior high girls

10:30 a.m.: Junior high boys

11 a.m.: Freshman boys

11:45 a.m.: Junior varsity girls

12:30 p.m.: Junior varsity boys

1:15 p.m.: Varsity girls

2 p.m.: Varsity boys

2:45 p.m.: GBRC open race