Strong performances highlight Nike Cross Nationals

Sarah Baxter of Simi Valley, Calif., crosses the finish line to win the Nike Cross Nationals girls race Saturday.

Photo by Cliff Pfenning, oregonsports.com.

A meet record and another near-record performance highlighted the Nike Cross National Championships Saturday at Portland Meadows.

Futsum Zeinasellaissie won the boys race in 15 minutes, 3 seconds to establish a record for the meet, which began in 2004.

Zeinasellaissie, a senior and three-time state champion from Indianapolis, Ind., broke from the lead pack halfway through the 5,000-meter race and won by 24 seconds.

Sarah Baxter of Simi Valley, Calif., won the girls race by four seconds in 17:38, missing the course record by just nine seconds.

Megan Fristoe of Summit High placed 83rd overall in the girls race to lead finishers from the Central Oregon XC club to a 17th-place finish among the 22 teams that qualified. Teammate Piper McDonald finished 85th for the Northwest Region champions.