PENDLETON — As the La Grande and Union/Cove cross-country teams prepare for their respective district meet, the two joined 12 additional teams in the running of the Kyle Burnside Memorial on Wednesday, Oct. 18, on the grounds of the Birch Creek Golf Course in Pendleton.

Facing a number of larger schools, it was again the Union/Cove boys winning the team title after the points were tallied. The Bobcats finished the day with 50 points, 23 points better than second-place Baker. With a 157 point total, the La Grande boys placed seventh in the team standings.

Union/Cove senior Eli Williams picked up his seventh individual championship, crossing the line ahead of all others with a time of 16 minutes, 38.5 seconds. Sophomore William Mallory placed fourth, running a season best time of 17:36.2.

La Grande’s top finish went to junior Josef Simonis, placing eighth with a time of 17:52.3, the first time this year Simonis has completed a race under 18 minutes.

With four of the top five finishes, the La Grande girls again picked up a team title with a 30-point total. Union/Cove placed second after a 48-point day.

In the back-and-forth battle between teammates, La Grande junior Cecilia Villagomez was victorious over teammate Brooke Perry. Both runners were the lone participants under 19 minutes with Perry recording a 18:44.5 but Villagomez crossing in 18:36.6 for the individual title. The duo were followed by teammates Emily Tubbs in third (19:59.5) and senior Kiah Carlson (20:38.6) in fourth.

Union/Cove freshman Millie Miller placed seventh, the top finisher for the Bobcats. Both junior Josie Patton and sophomore Taylor Weishaar grabbed top-10 finishes with Patton placing eighth and Weishaar running 10th.

The race was the final regular season meeting for both teams prior to the district meets. La Grande will return to the same course in Pendleton on Oct. 24 for the 4A Greater Oregon League meet. The girls will take to the course at 3 p.m. with the boys following at 3:30 p.m.

Union/Cove will also be making a trip back to Pendleton but running a different course. The Bobcats compete in the 3A/2A/1A District 3 meet on Oct. 27 at Pendleton Community Park. The girls take off from the start line at 2:30 p.m. with the boys following at 3:15 p.m.