Even without one of its top runners Wednesday afternoon, Crater’s boys cross country team served notice that the Comets expect to challenge for a fourth straight Class 5A state championship when the state’s best reconvene Nov. 9 in Eugene.

Paced by reigning 5A state champion Tayvon Kitchen, Crater cleaned up with six of the top eight times during the Midwestern League championships held at the Jackson County Expo — and that didn’t include another of the nation’s top runners in senior Josiah Tostenson.

“It says a lot about our team,” Kitchen said of the Comets’ dominance Wednesday. “Our team is really talented and I’m super impressed.”

Kitchen earned a repeat MWL title after covering the 5,000-meter course in 15 minutes, 23.50 seconds.

It was a far cry from an outing about two weeks ago that saw Kitchen edge Tostenson in the final steps of the Crater Twilight Invite after each ran 14:23, but just as important overall as Kitchen helped usher his fellow Comets through to another team triumph.

“Josiah sat this one out and I just focused on helping bring my team through with a fast time,” said Kitchen, “and I think it went well.”

“It means a lot and to do it with my team, for sure,” he added of a double win enjoyed at the Expo. “I’m super excited to see what the team can do at state and beyond.”

Of Tostenson’s absence for the MWL finale, Crater head coach Justin Loftus said the senior standout was “under the weather right now so we just didn’t want to push it.”

By virtue of the team accomplishment, Tostenson will be eligible to compete at the state meet, where he finished runner-up to Kitchen last year after the latter won in 15:26.2.

For his part, Loftus praised Kitchen’s leadership during the state qualifier.

“He raises the bar, as does Josiah, for the whole team,” the coach said of Kitchen. “He was all-in on getting the team up there to compete at a high level at district and into state. He’s very driven.”

Crater senior Ivar Hokanson finished second to Kitchen in the MWL championship in 15:31.50. Comets freshman Garrett Faught placed fifth (15:45.90) and was followed immediately by his teammates in sophomore Maxwell Miracle (15:48.10), senior Grant Headley (15:50.60) and sophomore Reece Hvall (15:52.40).

Crater scored 21 points to easily outdistance runner-up North Eugene in the boys competition.

The Crater girls were equally as dominant in earning their own MWL championship, with sophomore Brynn Davenport, senior Emma West and freshman Mari Dunlap taking the top three spots to help the Comets score 18 points overall.

Davenport won in 18:06.20 to continue her breakout campaign, followed by West (18:14.90) and Dunlap (18:49.60).

“It went really good,” said Davenport of the win. “I felt really prepared going into the race. It was really fun competing with the whole varsity girls team that we had.”

“I had a really good mindset going into this race and I stuck to my race plan as best as I could,” she added, “and when I got to the end I really just wanted to show up for my team and also for me.”

Ashland junior Mackenzie Schmidt (19:13.20) and freshman Natalie Kupka (19:34.30) finished fourth and fifth, respectively, to qualify for the 5A state meet.

Crater sophomore Grace Havniear (seventh, 19:39.10) and junior Claire Davenport (ninth, 20:18.60) also posted top-10 marks as the Comets finished well ahead of runner-up Springfield, which totaled 65 points.

“I’m excited for the state meet moving forward,” said Loftus, “and beyond with the postseason events as well. It’s always nice to get a win — it’s never for sure — and I’m glad our kids came out and ran hard.”

BOYS

TEAM SCORES: Crater 21, North Eugene 82, Churchill 84, Thurston 108, Ashland 117, Springfield 119, Eagle Point 220.

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (Top 20): 1, Tayvon Kitchen, Cra, 15:23.50; 2, Ivar Hokanson, Cra, 15:31.50; 3, Carson Buergey, Thu, 15:43.30; 4, Ashenafi McKinnis, NE, 15:43.60; 5, Garrett Faught, Cra, 15:45.90; 6, Maxwell Miracle, Cra, 15:48.10; 7, Grant Headley, Cra, 15:50.60; 8, Reece Hvall, Cra, 15:52.40; 9, Alder Davis, NE, 15:57.30; 10, Preston Schmidt, Cra, 16:03.20.

11, Joseph Wofford, NE, 16:13.50; 12, Adrian Estes, Spr, 16:23.70; 13, Owen Smith, Thu, 16:36.80; 14, Kobi Prenevost, Chu, 16:49.70; 15, Bjorn Austbo, Ash, 16:54.70; 16, Kai Kerns, Chu, 17:08.20; 17, Tautai Soeby, Chu, 17:08.80; 18, Athens Piechowicz, Chu, 17:12.40; 19, Wiley Rhoads, Chu, 17:15.20; 20, Zeb LaCoste, Ash, 17:20.20.

GIRLS

TEAM SCORES: Crater 18, Springfield 65, North Eugene 69, Thurston 105, Churchill 109.

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (Top 20): 1, Brynn Davenport, Cra, 18:06.20; 2, Emma West, Cra, 18:14.90; 3, Mari Dunlap, Cra, 18:49.60; 4, Mackenzie Schmidt, Ash, 19:13.20; 5, Natalie Kupka, Ash, 19:34.30; 6, Cricket Phipps, NE, 19:34.30; 7, Grace Havniear, Cra, 19:39.10; 8, Peyton Groshong, NE, 20:01.30; 9, Claire Davenport, Cra, 20:18.60; 10, Ellen Auxier, Spr, 20:25.00.

11, Audrey Sommerville, Spr, 20:32.10; 12, Bella Wells, Spr, 20:43.80; 13, Hannah Pygman, Cra, 20:50.70; 14, Kara Loftus, Cra, 20:56.50; 15, Lyla Rose, Ash, 20:57.90; 16, Fiona Birchler, Chu, 21:13.60; 17, Eliana Chacon, NE, 21:19.80; 18, Olivia Dodge, Chu, 21:25.20; 19, Genevieve Woodward, Thu, 21:49.10; 20, Olivia Uehlin, Spr, 21:52.40.