Prep runners from throughout the region have shown themselves to be among the best and have qualified for state competition.
Teams and individuals from all classifications ran last weekend, with top finishers advancing to this Saturday’s state meet. This region’s district meet, known as the Westside Classic, was contested Oct. 27 at Chambers Bay in University Place.
Now, state competition for schools of all sizes will take place this Saturday at the traditional venue, Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco.
Here’s a look at how athletes from local high schools fared.
WHITE RIVER
The Hornets, under coach Dameon Marlow, are sending entire teams on both the boys and girls side. The White River girls finished third and the boys placed fifth at the 2A district meet.
The White River girls, in particular, are continuing an impressive streak. This marks the fifth year in a row Marlow has sent the entire squad to Pasco. Representing the Hornets this time around are Makayla Melcher, Tori Goodrich, Maria Hawthorne, Kelsee Gould, Rachel Franco, Jessica Taylor and Grace Tyerman. Also making the Tri-Cities trip, as alternates, will be Karlie Gould and Zoe Steffen.
For the White River boys, this marks the first time since 2015 the entire squad has qualified for state. Running at Sun Willows will be Joel Slominski, Will Stern, Nathan Chaussee, Tanner Holmes, Grant Swettenam, Ronnie Riggs and Ted Stern. Team alternates are Tobias Miler and Evan Slish.
ENUMCLAW
The Enumclaw High Hornets came away from the Class 4A West Central District cross country championships with the entire boys team – and two girls – qualified for Saturday’s state meet in Pasco.
The Enumclaw boys were sixth in the 4A district field to qualify the entire team, repeating the team accomplishment from a year ago. Making the state trip and representing EHS in Pasco will be the squad of Sam Lingwall, Dominic Deady, Jacob Dickson, Seth Coons, Sayer Dodd, Kyle Revell and Foster Barnhart; going as alternates will be Derek Sanders and Trevor Storm.
The Enumclaw girls placed 13th in a strong field.
Qualifying individually for the state meet were Payton Roberson and Natasha Puzon. Also competing at districts for EHS were Piper Laymen, Kristen Dickson, Rachael Schaffett and Vanessa Sanders.
SUMNER
Adam Sjolund and Matthew Holme will be running at the 4A state meet after placing 14th and 22nd, respectively, at Chambers Bay.
Also running in the district meet for the Spartan boys were Ethan Roach, Jacob Perovich, Ryan Meldrum, Judah Garcia and Hayden Fisher.
The Sumner girls were paced by Evamarie Penney, who qualified for state after placing 31st in the district meet.
Also running for SHS at districts was Leah Duff.
BONNEY LAKE
The Bonney Lake program will be represented by two runners at Saturday’s state meet.
On the boys side, the Panthers’ Nolan Gain earned a Pasco trip by placing 27th at the district meet.
At Chambers Bay, he was joined by teammates Colten Graham, Jacob Schlosser, Cayan Dibble, Max Lea, Tanner Pecheos and Tanner Bates.
In the girls race, Bonney Lake will be represented by Zoey Diviney, who was 11th in the district 3A field.
Other Panther girls running at Chambers Bay were Faith Younce, Jasmin Ochoa, Jessica Day, Mekeyla Murphy, Drew Smith and Meredith Graham.
