Bonney Lake’s Veronica Stinnett placed first and three area teams advanced to Saturday’s West Central District III girls cross country meet after their performances at the subdistrict meet.
Conditions were perfect for Saturday’s subdistrict race between schools from the South Puget Sound League 3A and Western Cascade Conference at Fort Steilacoom Park in Lakewood – except for several groups of bees buzzing around the 3.1-mile course.
Several runners crossed the finish line in pain after being stung on either their leg, neck or arm.
One race official said one of every five runners crossing the finish line had bees either on their uniform or in their hair. Seventy-five girls competed in the race.
Sumner High coach Kristi Martin reported one of her runners was strung by a bee.
Park employees sprayed chemicals on several bee hives before the race, but were sent back to find and spray others discovered during the race.
The boys race was delayed an hour while crews battled bees.
The threat from nature didn’t slow down Stinnett, who led most of the race and crossed the finish line in 18 minutes, 53.8 seconds.
Stinnett said the hard training she did during the summer has helped improve her times from last season.
“I trained really hard this summer and ran more than 140 days in row without stopping,” she added. “I have a coach in California and my school coach that have contributed.”
The top six teams and top 30 runners advnced to districts.
Stinnett led Bonney Lake, which finished with 122 points, to a fourth-place finish behind second-place Enumclaw. Peninsula took first overall with 66 points and Sumner grabbed the fifth-place spot.
Enumclaw, just eight points behind Peninsula, was led by sophomore Chandler Weiman who placed eighth in 19:55.2.
Also advancing to districts for the Hornets are senior Carrisa Gwender, who finished 11th with a time of 20:05.6; Emily Eilertson, 14th, 20:22.2, Julia Harris, 19th, 20:31, Peyton Vick, 22nd, 20:51, Sierra Myers, 24th, 20:55.2, and sophomore Lauren Cary, 26th, 20:58).
Joining Stinnett at districts are a trio of freshmen, two juniors and a senior. The three freshmen are Marie Wilson, 20th, 20:34.1, Sierra Espinal, 31st, 21:14.1, and Hope Dickson, 36th, 22:05.2.
Senior Karlie Pyl was 34th at 21:24.5, while juniors Chloe Beal, 22:16.2, and Emily Campbell, 22:34.1, finished 38th and 44th, respectively.
Sunmer, which finished with 138 points, was led by senior Ashlee Sincraugh. She finished third in 19:40.
Spartan runners who also move on to districts are seniors Stefani Castile, 18th, 20:29.4, Megan McDaniel, 43rd, 22.23.2, and Jackie Tomlin, 58th, 23.31, along with juniors Leah Englehardt, 46th, 22:38, and Kendra Jansson, 53rd, 22:58, and sophomore Gabrielle Phelps, 28th, 21:05.9.
Two White River sophomores also advanced to district. Lauryn Wate finished ninth at 19:59.9 and Kelly Coyle took the 30th and final spot in 21:06.9.
The West Central District III 3A race will be run Saturday morning at American Lake in Lakewood.
