Portland runs to fourth place at nationals

Annamarie Maag.

Powered by a 15^th-place finish from Jesuit senior Annamarie Maag, the Portland cross country team placed an impressive fourth at the Nike Cross Nationals at Portland Meadows Saturday.

Maag, the defending Class 6A champion, finished the 5-kilometer course in 19 minutes, 12.1 seconds, and improved from 19^th a year ago.

Rachel Johnson of Plano, Texas, won in 18:18.6

Christie Rutledge finished three second back in second place, but led defending champion Manlius, N.Y., to the team title with just 27 points, setting a meet record.

Portland scored 227, but placed 11 spots higher than it had in 2008.

Behind Maag, Amira Joseph finised 71^st, Payton Schutte placed 87^th, Adrienne Demaree was 110^th, Shannon Mahoney was 117^th, Genevieve Reaume was 140^th and Olivia Artaiz finished 185^th among the 199-runner field.

In the boys race, Lukas Verzbikas won in 15:59.2, edging Edward Cheserek by just over two seconds.

Northwest representative North Spokane finished sixth among the 22 teams.

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