Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Eureka’s Charlotte Leonard and Fortuna’s Ella Owsley in action at the first H-DNL meet two weeks ago.

By Ray Hamill — The pace setters in H-DNL cross country will look to carry some momentum into Wednesday’s league meet at the Arcata Community Forest, which will be hosted by Northcoast Prep.

On the boys side, Arcata senior Jude Ortega has been the top competitor so far this season, placing first at both H-DNL meets, as well as at the recent Clam Beach Invitational.

The girls races have been closer affairs with Eureka’s Charlotte Leonard barely edging Fortuna’s Ella Owsley in week one, and then Arcata’s Ai-Lan McGoldrick taking the win over a smaller field in week two, with a number of teams opting not to compete because of busy schedules.

Ortega has led a strong showing by the Arcata boys, who have been the early pace setters, as have the Eureka girls.

“Our girls team, is super strong this year,” Eureka head coach Matt Messner said. “It’s just a good group, and in our top five there’s not one senior, so I’m excited about the future.”

Sisters Charlotte and Stasha Leonard led the Loggers’ charge at the recent Clam Beach Invitational, placing first and third, respectively, with Owsley in second.

It was a particularly impressive showing by Stasha Leonard, who had previously placed eighth at the league opening meet.

“Stasha moved way up,” Messner said. “She ran the best race she ever ran.”

The Loggers took the team win, with Miriam Mende also turning in a strong performance.

Stasha Leonard in action at a recent league race.

The Eureka boys team, meanwhile, does not have the same depth as the school’s girls team, although Messner expects junior Daniel Shaver to be in the mix, describing him as “very dedicated and a very good runner.”

With Ortega seemingly in top form, the Tigers could be tough to stop this year as a team.

“Jude is just running so well and he seems to be in a class by himself,” the Eureka coach said of the Arcata standout.

McKinleyville sophomore Damian Dinan also has impressed early in the season, placing second at both league meets.

Wednesday’s races get under way at 4 p.m.