Lakeridge boys XC ready to chase another TRL crown

Lakeridge returns with its sights set on a third straight TRL title.

*This story has been corrected.

Cross country is the ultimate individual sport.

Runners are out there on their own and no one — from their own team or the other team — can make them run faster or slower than what they do on their own.

Unless you run for the Lakeridge boys cross country team, that is.

The Pacers return for 2022 with their sights set on a third straight Three Rivers League district championship and the belief that they’ll get there as a team. In 2021, Lakeridge won the TRL crown and later placed 17th at state.

“We believe our biggest strength is our effort as a team in a typically individual-driven sport,” said Lakeridge coach Scott Spear (now in his 10^th season as Pacers head coach). “The support and encouragement every day is what we value and it’s evident on race day that’s a priority.”

The Pacers will be led this year by senior Luke Loomis (he was eighth at district a year ago and 78^th at the Class 6A state meet); senior Lassen Baertsch Kovalchick (10th at district a year ago and 98^th at state); senior Alex Torres (14^th at district a year ago and 114^th at state); senior Walker Godfrey (16^th at district a year ago and 119^th at state); and sophomore Curran Fogarty (he was eighth in the TRL 3,000 meters as a freshman).

In addition to that group, which includes four of the top eight returners from the 2021 TRL district meet, Lakeridge will look to senior Zach Shallenberger, senior Grayson Shanks, freshman Ta Ohr and freshman Jack Harbison.

“We are excited for the upcoming season,” Spear said. “After winning back-to-back TRL titles, (we) are striving to improve and qualify for the state championship again this fall.”

Spear added that the Pacers consider themselves one of the favorites in the 2022 TRL race, but said that the league has so much talent that nothing is guaranteed.

See the Lake Oswego team preview here.

See the West Linn team preview here.

*The original photo that accompanied this story showed graduated senior Cooper Wood.