Building on a Legacy: 55th Annual Max Jensen Invitational - By Mackenzie Schulz
The 55th annual Max Jensen Invite, also known as the Richland Invite, is one of the biggest cross-country meets for schools all across Washington state, hosting 28 high schools and 13 middle schools this year. This meet takes place at Carmichael Middle School, and its course contains the infamous Carmichael Hill. Photo: Gustavo Calderon This meet is named after Max Jensen, a former Richland cross country and track coach from 1964-1974. Jensen is one of the coaches responsible for growing cross country as a sport statewide. He made the Richland program a cross-country power in the early 1970s, winning three straight boys' state titles before Mike Hepper took over. Hepper’s team continued Jensen’s legacy and won state the following two years. Currently, coach Bruce Blizard and his team are working hard to build on Jensen’s legacy. To many cross-country teams, the draw of the Richland invite is its difficult course, consisting of two trips up and down Carmichael Hill and otherwise re
