Oak Park girls’ cross-country team runs in Nike Nationals

The Oak Park Station 36 XC Club finished in 12th place Saturday at the second annual Nike Team Nationals in Portland, Ore.

Pre-race festivities were held at the Nike World Headquarters. The races took place at the Portland Meadows racetrack, which features a cross-country course.

Because CIF rules prohibited high school head coaches from coaching their teams in the unsanctioned meet, Christina Lightfoot, mother of sophomore Courtney Lightfoot, accompanied the Oak Park team while coach Kevin Smith remained in California and watched the Webcast of the meet with Lyle Greenberg and other coaches and team members.

Oak Park chose to run as the Oak Park Station 36 XC Club because the use of high school names was prohibited as well.

Courtney Lightfoot was Oak Park’s first runner with a 37th place finish. Next for Oak Park were junior Breanne Strenkowski (41st); senior Kelsey Connor (59th); sophomore Marissa Diehl (68th; sophomore Kirsten Jackson (79th; senior Ashley Stalzer (132nd); and senior Angela Gonzalez (133rd).

— Steve Ames