Shaylin Curtis crosses the finish line. The Pilot/Jef Hatch

“We knew the course was fast, and the competition was awesome,” Axel said. “I was happy with what I saw, and I’m really excited about it.”

Kyle Gordon led the boys team, coming in ninth with a time of 16:01.

“Felt pretty quick for having just been sick,” Gordon said. “I just pushed hard to keep the pace going.

“For how fast the course was, I think the team ran pretty good. It builds confidence for future races.”

Shaylin Curtis led the girls with a time of 19:39, and came in eighth overall.

Other runners included: Ronnie Manley, 17:03; Nick Ensley, 18:02; Shane Graham, 18:03; Sean Graham, 18:04; Dylan Hiller, 18:11; Brandi Rodgers, 20:50; Zack Anderberg, 21:00; Diondre Runyon, 21:05; Mikaela Lea, 23:18; and Mikaela George, 23:30.

Team scores were not available at press time from the meet due to rain causing a malfunction with the scoring system.

The Bruins also participated in the Pacific High Cape Run on Sept. 27, and the Woahink Lake XC Invitational on Oct. 1.

Sean Graham took sixth overall to lead the boys at the Cape Run with a time of 19:17, while Curtis lead the girls in fourth place overall, with a time of 23:42.

At the Woahink Lake meet, the boys team took ninth out of 17 teams, including four, 5A and 6A teams. The girls team didn’t have enough runners to qualify for a team score.

“I’m really excited for the boys team,” Axel said after the Woahink meet. “They’re right up there with South Umpqua.

Curtis led the girls team in 10th-place overall with a time of 21:18 and Gordon once again led the boys, finishing in 31st with a time of 18:41.

“If they can bring up the intensity we’ll have a shot at districts,” Axel said. “I’m really excited about that.”