Duvenez, King lead ‘Cats at South Whidbey meet

The Oak Harbor High School teams were led by Allison Duvenez and Tyler King at the South Whidbey Cross Country Invitational Saturday.

Duvenez’s second-place finish in the individual standings helped the girls’ team to second place in the Division II race. The Wildcats scored 97 points, eight behind winner Sedro-Woolley.

Duvenez ran the 5,000 meter course in 20:10.12. She was followed by teammates Jessica Denmon, 16th; Ariel McCarter, 32nd; Christina Wickers, 36th; and Heather Dale, 41st.

King placed third in the prestigious boys’ Division I race, breaking 16 minutes for the first time at 15:59.46 on slow rain-soaked course. Gig Harbor’s Conner Peloquin won in 15:42.94; Jackson’s Mitchell Briggs finished one second ahead of King.

Matt Reith was the second Oak Harbor runner, placing 43rd at 17:12 in the 128-person race.

As a team, the OHHS boys placed 15th. Thursday the Wildcats go to Meadowdale to run against the Chiefs, Everett, Shorewood, and Edmonds-Woodway.