Oxford’s cross country runners improved times and placement when competing in the Old Skool Classic on Saturday, Sept. 22. Oxford’s girls performed particularly well against the fellow OAA red division teams, making up the fastest schools in Oakland County.

Freshman Alaine Cusick had Oxford’s best finish of the day, coming in third for the 5,000 meter ninth grade girls race with a time of 22:22. Her fellow Wildcat Jenna Hickey came in near the front of the pack as well with an 11^th place finish and a time of 23:53.

The sophomore girls also finished near the front, with Oxford’s top two sophomores in the tenth grade girls race being Emma Long, who finished ninth with a time of 24:00, and Lauren Schiller, who finished 17^th with a time of 25:05.

Oxford’s junior Wildcats took the 11^th grade girls race near the front as well. Madeline Lukens came in 13^th with a time of 23:01, and teammate Paige Miller ran in just behind Lukens in 14^th place with a time of 23:31.

In the girls’ seniors race, Molly Long came in 13^th with a time of 23:57. Abby Mooney ran a time of 25:18 and landed 24^th place in the girls’ seniors race.

The boys made some improvements from the previous week, but did not finish as strong as the ladies in placement. For the freshmen boys’ race, Ryan Patterson came in 44^th place with a time of 21:59. The next freshman Wildcat to cross the finish line was Joseph Laperriere, who placed 74^th and ran a time of 24:17.

The sophomore boys moved up the board a little more, with the first Wildcat finisher being Ignacio Rodrigues, who ran a time of 20:07 and came in 24^th place. Zach Patterson finished the sophomore race in 37^th place and ran a time of 20:40.

The junior boys moved closer to the top, and Scott Masterson came in 19^th with a time of 19:37 and Shane Ross ran in not far behind in 23^rd place with a time of 19:42

The Wildcat senior boys ran Oxford’s best times of the day in their race. John “JJ” Bagans finished 21^st with a time of 19:26. Teammate Hunter Green came in just behind Bagans, landing 22^nd place and a time of 19:28.

The Wildcats will be racing again on Saturday, Oct. 6 at the Oakland County Championships, which will be held at the Kensington Metropark.