Oak Harbor runners placed first in each race as the Wildcat boys team finished first and the girls second in a three-team cross country meet at Arlington’s River Meadows Park Thursday, Sept. 15.

Freshman John Rodeheffer and senior Matt Reith went 1-4 and Oak Harbor had five runners in the top 10 to lead the boys to a 25-30-78 win over Stanwood and Arlington.

Junior Christina Wicker and sophomore Alex Laiblin also went 1-4 as the Wildcat girls placed second, 24-35-77, between Stanwood and Arlington.

In the boys race, Rodeheffer held a slight lead throughout and won by four seconds on the 5,000-meter course. Coach Eric Peterson said during the last mile the “88-pound freshman looked like he was running to save his life with the two bigger Stanwood runners doing all they can to catch him — but it never happened.”

Peterson said Wicker “ran a perfect race from start to finish” to claim the girls contest. She ran a relaxed fourth early, caught the leaders midway and then pulled away for a 30-second win.

The race showed Wicker’s “patience and strength as a runner,” Peterson said.

Oak Harbor hosts Monroe, Kamiak and Cascade Thursday, Sept. 22, at 3:45 in the only home meet of the season.

Oak Harbor results:

Boys varsity: 1, Rodeheffer, 16:55; 4, Reith, 17:15; 5, Joshua Schrum, 17:18; 7, John Kaltenbach, 17:46; 8, Dakota Powers, 17:57; 16, Esai Cunningham, 18:41; 20, Caley Powers, 19:22.

Girls: 1, Wicker, 19:38; 4, Laiblin, 20:39; 7, Jonalynn Horn, 21:10; 10, Heather Dale, 21:20; 13, Taylor VonGrey, 21:41; 14, Carlie Kenny, 21:58; 15, Mackenzie Jackson, 21:59; 19, Rachel Crowther, 23:37; 26, Nikki Blanchard, 24:25; 41, Grace Pauley, 29:02; 46, Sophie Rath, 29:25; 47, Emily Saar, 29:25.

JV boys: 3, Thomas Honeycutt, 19:02; 5, Stephen Miller, 19:18, 6, Alexander Krantz, 19:23; 7, Joel Erickson, 19:25; 8, Clayton Richardson, 19:32; 13, Nathan Wagner, 19:59; 19, Patrick Mayer, 20:24; 21, Brendan Bristow, 20:42; 31, Ryuta Meany, 22:17; 47, Alex Berry, 32:15.