The East Linn cross country team ran well at the Dist. 2/3 Challenge last week at Bush Park in Salem and are now focused on the district meet this Friday.

Team scores were not kept, but if they had been, the Eagles women would have taken first place.

Katelin Renfro remained East Linn's top runner, finishing fourth overall in 21 minutes, 20 seconds.

Hannah Whitehead was right behind her in 21:22, good enough for fifth place.

Coming in seventh was Zoe Engwall, who finished in 21:30.

"They ran really well," coach Gary Timms said. "I think it was their best race of the whole year."

Lisl Ruckert was 15th in 22:32 and Whitley Garber was East Linn's fifth finisher in 23:19, good enough for 18th overall.

Rounding out the Eagle's finishers were QiQi Liu (33rd, 25:17), Autumn Short (38th, 25:48) and Kelsie Horner (42nd, 26:07).

Garber and Short both notched career personal-best times.

The men were led by freshmen Taylor Becker and Kody Osbourne.

Becker finished 15th in 18:25 and Osbourne crossed in 18:28 to claim 16th.

Sophomore Matt Hitt had a career-PR time of 20:43, good enough for 62nd.

The Eagles return to Bush Park on Friday for the district meet.

The top two teams will advance to the state tournament and the top four individuals that aren't a part of the top two teams also qualify.

East Linn took first place at districts last year.

"If they run like they did at the challenge, I'm looking forward to state," Timms said.

The state meet is Nov. 7 at Lane Community College.