Peters Stays Conservative, Rolls Late To Beat Engelhardt; Gorze Outkicks Pala For Boys Title

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Chuck Utash photos - BOYS | GIRLS

Kate Peters of Lake Oswego High in Oregon stuck to a familiar tactic Saturday at the Eastbay Cross Country West Regional at Mt. SAC in California – stay content to be with the leader early and then make a decisive move. 

That's the formula that led to wins at the Nike Portland XC meet in September and the Oregon 6A final after that. In both cases, she threw in a powerful move to break away from national-level runners.

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On Saturday, Peters was a stride behind Sadie Engelhardt, California's fabulous freshman, at the 1.5-kilometer split. And then she picked a spot in the final 800 meters to pull ahead and win by five seconds in 17:19. Peters is the first Oregon girl to win the race since La Grande's Mariel Ettinger in 1997. 

"The goal is to have an undefeated season, so I'll see (next week) if that can happen," Peters said. 

In the boys race, Oregon 5A champion Tyrone Gorze of Crater (Central Point) stayed red-hot and won the regional title in 15:10. After winning his state title in Eugene, Gorze won the Pacific Northwest XC Showcase in Arlington, Wash. 

Gorze was about even with California Division 5 champion Kenan Pala of San Diego at three miles before a late kick gained a bit of separation. Gorze was timed in 15:10 and Pala was second in 15:12. Idaho Falls' Luke Athay finished third in 15:14.

"With a half mile to go I was like, 'OK I'm feeling pretty good so let's just go for the win now,'" Gorze said. 

Two more Oregonians, Charlie North of Franklin High in Portland and Michael Maiorano from South Medford, were timed in 15:16 and fourth and fifth. 

A fourth Oregon runner, Caleb Lakeman of Tualatin, was ninth. It marked the first time in meet history that Oregon produced four male qualifiers to the national meet after having three boys advance in 2019.

California runners Zach Ayers (Davis Senior), Mark Trammell (Santa Fe Christian) and Max Sannes (Big Bear) were sixth, eighth and 10th, also giving California four qualifiers.

NXR Southwest champion Jefferson McMullin of Lehi, Utah took seventh. 

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Olivia Williams of Acalanes High in Lafayette, Calif. reversed the order with Albany CA's Sophia Nordenholz from the CIF Division 4 final a week prior. Williams, the runner-up to Nordenholz on Nov. 27 at Woodward Park, beat her by four seconds as the Californians placed third and fourth, respectively. 

Lauren Ping of Desert Vista High in Arizona, the NXR Southwest champion, took fifth. 

Kaiya Robertson of Portland's Franklin High, third at the Oregon state meet, placed sixth. She will join North at the national finals and San Diego and they follow in the footsteps of former teammate Charlie Robertson, qualified for nationals in 2019.

It also marked the first time since 1993 that Oregon will have a pair of female qualifiers, with Robertson joining Peters.

Taylor Rohatinsky of American Fork UT placed seventh to maintain Utah's presence at the national finals girls race. Californians Anna McNatt (McClatchy CA) and Aishling Callanan (Peninsula CA) were eighth and ninth. 

Nelah Roberts of Skyline High in Idaho Falls was 10th.