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Just call it the home mud advantage.

Both Crimson Bears cross country teams blazed to dominant victories on Saturday, playing the part of bad hosts at the Juneau-Douglas High SchoolInvitational on Douglas Island's Treadwell trail system.

The girls' team finished with 28 total points to top their field of seven schools, easily outpacing Sitka's 73 points in second place and Ketchikan's 77 in third.

The boys' team had just 24 total points to blow past their field of 12 schools, including Sitka's 91 points in second and Mount Edgecumbe's 96 points in third.

Junior Leah Francis again proved dominant on her home course, taking advantage of a break in the rain and a few slivers of sunshine to post a time of 18 minutes and just over 32 seconds to win the girls' race. She finished nearly two full minutes ahead of second-place Stoli Lende from Haines who finished in 20:12.42.

Francis was joined in the girls' top five by Karissa Jackson in third at 20:30.16 and Sidney Browning in fourth at 20:36.52.

"Our senior Elisha Thibodeau ran her typical race as our fifth runner as well. She got stronger as the race winded down and really pushed Aubrey Briscoe for that fourth spot," coach Guy Thibodeau said.

The Juneau boys were unable to take home the individual title of their home meet, but posted six of the top eight times in impressive display of teamwork. Ketchikan's Isaac Updike ended up with boys' individual title, finishing in 16:47.12.

Zack Bursell was the top finisher for the Crimson Bears, finishing second in 16:50.88 to edge out senior Daniel Stoops, who finished third in 16:56.02. Sage Thibodeau was fourth overall in 17:02.77, Andre Bunton seventh in 17:40.19 and Nolin Ainsworth eighth in 17:46.71.

"(Bursell and Stoops) were in that top three all the way and really gave themselves a chance to win there at the end," Thibodeau said.

Both teams picked up their victories without the help of a top runner. Annika Ord and David Francis sat out their respective races due to illness.

"We were really pleased with how our fifth, sixth and seventh runners came along," Thibodeau said. "We were missing two big parts of the puzzle, but the other kids picked up the slack and gave us some gas."

The momentarily dry weather made for a festive atmosphere after the race as the teams acknowledged their senior runners and treated their visitors to a meal of chili and barbecue at the Sandy Beach finish line.

"I thought it was our best race (on Douglas Island). We had a great crowd and just a really fantastic atmosphere," Thibodeau said. "We had plenty of music going to get the kids pumped up and quite a few parents brought the chili, chips, muffins and drinks to get everybody fed."

The teams will head to the Southeast Region IV meet in Ketchikan next weekend, where they hope to qualify for the state meet in Palmer on Oct. 3-4.

"I'm just looking forward to our 'Texas two-mile' on Monday - even if the kids aren't," Thibodeau said. "It's our hardest practice of the year and we'll look to build up some more endurance."

Saturday's race also decided the seven runners from each team who will travel to Ketchikan and Palmer. The girls' team will feature Francis, Jackson, Browning, Briscoe, Thibodeau, Alice Ottoson-McKeen and Ord. The boys will take Bursell, Stoops, Thibodeau, Bunton, Ainsworth, Robin Woodby and Francis. Senior Nick Waldo will be the team's alternate.

• Sports editor Trent Makela can be reached at 523-2228 or sports@juneauempire.com.

Juneau Invite

Team scores

Saturday

Girls:

1. Juneau 28

2. Sitka 73

3. Ketchikan 77

4. Haines 78

5. Mt. Edgecumbe 108

6. Yakutat 150

7. Kake 206

Boys:

1. Juneau 24

2. Sitka 91

3. Mt. Edgecumbe 96

4. Haines 101

5. Craig 112

6. Wrangell 157

7. Ketchikan 165

8. Klawock 249

9. Kake 265

10. Yakutat 267

11. Petersburg 269

12. Metlakatla 277