The Burns Hilander cross country teams had a lot to celebrate on Saturday, Nov. 3.

The Burns boys team won the OSAA Class 3A state title with a score of 52, and the Hilanders’ Emmett Klus won the boys individual title, finishing the 5K course in a time of 16:31.

The Burns girls team placed third at the Class 3A/2A/1A state meet. Catlin Gabel took first with a score of 71, followed by Enterprise/Joseph/Wallowa with 75, and Burns with a score of 85.

McKenzi Hoyt led the Burns girls team with a second-place finish (19:10).

“Heading into last week, I told the team, ‘We are poised to make history this week.’ I also told them that they were different people than at the start of the season,” Burns coach Andrea Letham said. “They had grown as individuals to overcome doubt, injury, and had worked hard to build friendships, and created a synergy that would propel them forward as a team.”

The Burns boys team placed second at district last weekend, finishing three points behind Enterprise. But at the 3A state meet held at Lane Community College in Eugene, the Hilanders flipped the script and beat out Enterprise for the top spot, 52-54.

Along with the first-place finish by Klus, JP Friedrichsen placed fifth (16:56), Ryan Robles 12th (17:36), Calvin Bates 13th (17:37), Masson Shaw 33rd (18:36), Tom Boyd 42nd (18:58), and Chris Boyd 58th (19:58).

While Hoyt set the pace for the Burns girls team, the other runners did their part. Riley Morris placed ninth (20:03), Alicyn Hoke 28th (21:07), Sayge Root 29th (21:15), Olivia Winn 30th (21:16), Sarah Letham 33rd (21:27), and Avery Gunderson 56th (23:17).

Alejandra Lopez of Kennedy won the girls individual title with a time of 19:02.

“I couldn’t be prouder of how hard they worked together, and how much they supported each other during the season and during the races,” Letham said. “McKenzi had a phenomenal season. She was dialed in and focused from the get-go. She never doubted or looked back. It was awesome to watch.

“Emmett had set the goal to become state champ early on in the season. He had some ups and downs in races, but persevered and dug deep. He said he won the state race because he stayed in the moment of the race. I couldn’t be prouder both of them. JP Friedrichsen ran a steady and focused race. Riley Morris is a fierce competitor. Both placed in the top 10.

“I could comment on everyone…every runner had a multitude of personal victories on Saturday —

meeting goals, working together, and overcoming the awe of being at state for the first time (the girls).”

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