1,900 runners expected in Tri-Cities this weekend for WA state cross country championships
About 1,900 runners are expected when the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association holds the state cross country championships Saturday at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco.
Steady rain is expected most of the day as the listed number of runners entered in the 10 races is 1,854 student-athletes.
Four defending state champions are expected to compete — Skyline’s Anna Callahan (4A girls), East Valley-Spokane’s Logan Hofstee (2A girls), Seton Catholic’s Alexis Leone (1A girls), and Tri-Cities Prep’s Ciaran St. Hilaire (1B/2B boys).
Everything gets going Saturday, and here is the schedule:
9:30 a.m. — Wheelchair race; 10 — 1B/2B girls; 10:30 — 1A girls; 11 — 2A girls; 11:30 — 1B/2B boys; 12 p.m. — 1A boys.
12:30 — 2A boys; 1 — 3A girls; 1:30 — 4A girls; 2 — Ambulatory; 2:30 — 3A boys; 3 — 4A boys.
Here’s a look at the event, race-by-race:
4A boys
Start: 3 p.m.
Defending state champion Issaquah is back, and it is No. 1 in the final Washington State Cross Country Coaches poll.
But Kamiakin — supposedly in a rebuilding year — and Lewis & Clark could battle for the team title. Also watch Eastlake and West Valley-Yakima.
Kamiakin’s Ezra Teeples is the top returning placer. He was fifth last year with a time of 16 minutes, 9.7 seconds. Caden Casteel of West Valley-Yakima (seventh in 2022) and Issaquah’s Connor Rickey (eighth in 2022) also have a chance at an individual title.
Local participants: Kamiakin (Carter Colunga, Reagan Dupuy, Jackson Farris, Jack Judi, Chase Kennard, Ezra Teeples, Noah Thomas, Bridger Melver, Jacob Cabe); Richland (Crew Martell); Sunnyside (Elijah Cisneros, Andrew Garcia, Stephen Maltos, Edgar Yanez, Jonathan Adame, Xavier Castilleja, Caden Condie, Iker Gutierrez, Alexzander Osorio).
4A girls
Start: 1:30 p.m.
Skyline’s Callahan won the title last year. Teammate Rebecca O’Keefe finished third. In between was Eliza White of Curtis.
Coaches seem to like Mt. Si for the title. But Issaquah can make some noise.
Local participants: Chiawana (Emma Gis); Hanford (Mia Beightol, Ava Beus); Kamiakin (Louesa Gledhill, Anna Humble, Camryn Sabin, Elena Till, Maycee Curnutt, Sydney DeCoria, Preslie Jenkins, Marissa Sampson, Meredith Stavenger); Pasco (Valerie Siebol-DeRuyter); Richland (Abby Duncan, Lillian Robertson).
3A boys
Start: 2:30 p.m.
Seattle Prep, which took the team title in 2022, looks to be the team title favorite again.
Top returning placer is Vincent Recupero of Bishop Blanchet, He finished third in 2022. But Seattle Prep has two outstanding runners in Jack Henzke (5th in 2022) and Liam Riley (seventh).
Local participants: Hermiston (Robert Bartman, Hunter Hansell, Jose Juarez, Jaysen Rodriguez, Gabriel Anderson, Franco Gonzalez Mendoza, Luis Silva Salas, Miguel Fuentes, John Mills); Walla Walla (Ian Lash.
3A girls
Start: 1 p.m.
The coaches poll mirrors the top three teams that placed last year: Central Kitsap, Gig Harbor and Bishop Blanchet.
The top three placers returning were 2 through 4 in 2022: Central Kitsap’s Clare Herring, Bishop Blanchet’s Lily Laporte, and Snohomish’s Paige Gerrard.
Local participants: Hermiston (Haylee Mercer, Lillian Fields, Sophia Helfer, Megan Joyce, Maggie Meenderinck, Hailey Melville, Elizabeth Newman, Taylor Blackburn, Nova Hinojosa); Kennewick (Morgan Thompson); Walla Walla (Macy Eggart).
2A boys
Start: 12:30 p.m.
Sehome finished second last season as a team, and its is favored to win it this year by the coaches (with Anacortes and Ellensburg right behind).
Selah’s Nicolas Spencer (fourth last season) and Kingston’s Lucas Lentz (sixth) are the guys to beat.
Local participants: Othello (Alejandro Mendoza, Daniel Gonzalez); Prosser (Cristobal Gonzalez).
2A girls
Start: 11 a.m.
Hofstee should be the heavy favorite to repeat. She’ll have Washougal’s Elle Thomas (fourth in 2022) and Henry Foss’ Katie Mingus (fifth in 2022) pushing her.
The final coaches poll mirrors the same finish from last year’s team race: Sehome, Anacortes and Ellensburg.
Local participants: Prosser (Elizabeth Norris, Iris Slonecker).
1A boys
Start: 12 p.m.
The state coaches like Cedar Park Christian as the team champ, but defending state champ Bush, as well as Laskeside of Nine Mile Falls will have something g to say about that.
Top returners from last year include Freeman’s Barrett Poulson (fourth in 2022), Northwest’s Desmond Stanfield (seventh) and Overlake’s Keith Hunter (eighth).
Local participants: College Place (Randyn Burgener, Isaiah Hawkins, Jio Herrera, Jorge Ramos, Dawson Catlett, Zeke Durand, Levi Harri, Keenan Pewitt, Drew Wipf); Connell (Christian Larios, Ethan Sullivan); Royal (Alan Amado, Carlos Barajas, Jeonatan Dircio, Aram Garnick, Jesus Mendoza, Fabian Meza, Antonio Narciso, Henry Olmedo, Kevin Ramirez); Wahluke (Angel Vazquez).
1A girls
Start: 10:30 a.m.
Coaches and last year’s results push for Sadie Meyring to lead Lakeside of Nine Mile Falls to a team title.
Meyring placed second last year, only losing to winner Leone of Seton Catholic — who returns for another season.
Keep an eye out for Klahowya’s Natalie Oathout too.
Local participants: College Place (Alexis Fadness, Chloe Svilich, Arialee Amsing); Connell (Lucy Campbell); Royal (Kayla Abundiz, Rebecca Carlson, Briana Cedillo, Vanesa Cedillo, Jade Flores, Sarah Freeman, Kenia Orth, Cindy Rincon, Valeria Rodriguez).
1B/2B boys
Start: 11:30 a.m.
If there is anyone local who could win a state title, it’ll be Prep’s Ciaran St. Hilaire. He won last year’s race in 16:27.40; runs track in the spring at Kamiakin; and shouldn’t be intimidated with the field.
St. George’s Benjamin Morales (third last year) and Liberty Bell’s Dexter Delaney (fourth last year) will be pushing for a title.
Chewelah and Pope John Paul 2 went 1-2 last year in the team title race. Coaches think you should keep an eye on Valley Christian as well.
Local participants: Mabton (Christian Camacho, Adan Zuniga); Tri-Cities Prep (Ciaran St. Hilaire, Patrick Kovis, Brian Sweeney).
1B/2B girls
Start: 10 a.m.
St. George’s Josie McLaughlin won it all last year. Even though she could run again, injuries caught up with her and she’s not running again.
Local participants: Mabton (Alma Torres); Tri-Cities Prep: Samantha Quintana.
Madison Ingram of Northwest Christian-Lacey, and Leki Albright of Liberty Bell have been tough on opponents.
Pope John Paul 2 High School won the team title last year. Coaches think it could happen again.
Jeff Morrow is former sports editor for the Tri-City Herald.
