As the Canby High School cross country season winds down, the Cougars are gearing up for one final push at the Northwest Oregon Conference District Championships, set for Thursday, Oct. 30, at Blue Lake Regional Park in Fairview. With state meet aspirations on the line, runners are hoping to cap their season with personal bests and potential qualifying performances.
Boys Team Eyes State Qualification
Leading the charge for Canby is Corbin Stoddart, who has recorded an impressive 5K time of 16:31.5, placing him 11th overall in the boys’ field. Stoddart is followed closely by teammates Jaycob Aguas (17th, 16:59.7), Brendan Snyder (24th, 17:19.5), Cade Collins (30th, 17:48.0), and Joseph Stearns (36th, 18:06.3).
With the top five varsity runners contributing to the team score, every second will count in Canby’s effort to climb the standings. Pre-meet projections place Milwaukie as the heavy favorite, boasting a potential 23 points with five runners ranked in the top eight. Wilsonville and Hood River follow in second and third with 71 and 75 points, respectively.
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Canby currently sits fifth overall with a projected 118 points, trailing La Salle Prep, which is expected to score 88 points for fourth place. Despite the odds, the Cougars remain determined to outperform expectations when it matters most.
Girls Team Striving for Strong Finish
On the girls’ side, Maddie Fox and Katelyn Vissers lead the way, ranked 22nd (22:21.5) and 23rd (22:34.0), respectively. They’ll be supported by Preslee Bafford (29th, 23:03.5), Emilia Ensrud (39th, 24:14.0), Eden Hostetler (41st, 24:23.1), and Rachelle Gensford (47th, 24:50.4).
As a team, the Canby girls are projected to finish sixth with 145 points. Wilsonville and Hood River Valley appear dominant in the field, projected at 42 and 78 points, respectively. Still, the Cougars are focused on personal improvement and the possibility of individual state qualifications.
State Championship Qualification Explained
The path to the OSAA Cross Country State Championships includes both team and individual qualification opportunities:
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Team Automatic Qualifiers: The top two teams from each district meet automatically advance to state. There are eight districts in total, with qualification determined by league results on or before Saturday, Nov. 2.
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At-Large Teams: Five additional teams will earn state berths through the At-Large Committee following the completion of district meets.
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Individual Qualifiers: The top seven finishers not already on qualifying teams will advance to state as individuals. If all top seven runners belong to qualifying teams, no additional spots are awarded.
Final Push Toward State
With the season’s biggest race just ahead, Canby’s runners are determined to leave everything on the course. Whether fighting for team placement or individual qualification, the Cougars’ performance at Blue Lake Regional Park will decide who continues on to state competition and who closes the season with a personal best.
