MEDICAL LAKE — The top-ranked state 1A Cardinal boys’ cross country team continued its domination after taking first through fifth place at home in the third Northeast A League meet of the season, going 15-48 against both No. 10 Riverside and Deer Park on Wednesday, Oct. 16.
Despite an infestation of small white gnat-like bugs that descended upon the event, Cardinal speedster Quintin Collins managed to nail a 16 minute, 41.66 second time to set a new home course record previously held by Domenic Rehm.
Reid Headrick was second overall in 17:07, Victor Long was third coming in at 17:38, Benjamin Henry fourth at 17:51 and Angel Mendez fifth in 17:53. Jeremiah Windle took eighth in 18:15 and Connor Palmen ninth in 18:32.
The Cardinal girls beat Riverside in a close 25-30 race, but lost to No. 5 Deer Park 16-41.
Allison Payne challenged the Stags for a good percentage of the race, according to head coach Gene Blankenship, placing sixth in 21:15 on the girls varsity crew, followed by Paige Headrick at eighth in 21:54, Maris Tuck 13th in 23:27, Katie Hiatt 15th in 24:21, Grace Grubaugh 17th in 25:04 and Hailey Cross 18th in 25:27.
Blankenship was gracious about the boys victory over Riverside — and cautious.
“We really like racing against Riverside, they’re kind of our friends,” he said. “Our kids love them, and I love them, the coach is great and we have a lot on common regarding what we get done.”
But Blankenship noted that Riverside was without their number one runner as well.
“It would have been a lot closer I think,” he said, noting that if anyone was going to knock the Cardinals out at the state championship meet, it was Riverside.
The Medical Lake boys continue to lead the 1A classification in the state cross country coaches’ poll.
With one league race left in the season the boys varsity team sits at 5-0, the girls 3-2. The Cardinals were scheduled to host Freeman on Wednesday, Oct. 23 at 4 p.m. at press time.
Lee Hughes can be reached at lee@cheneyfreepress.com.
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