Cheney XC head off to regionals

Cheney cross country had a memorable Senior Day Oct. 18 as both boys and girls scored victories in their final Greater Spokane League dual meet.

The Blackhawk boys topped Gonzaga Prep 21-36 and Ridgeline 21-79. In those victories Calvin Hilton won his first HS XC race ever according to his coach, Derek Slaughter.

The sophomore Hilton recorded a 16 minute, 23.94 second time to lead three Cheney runners, including Brayden Martin (16:48.83) and Adam Estock (17:06.64) across the finish line at Salnave Park.

The Cheney girls won both duals, one in something of an upset, according to Slaughter. “We were not supposed to beat Ridgeline,” he said, but did 25-40 and topped things off with a 25-63 win over G-Prep.

Sam Habegger (20:25.51) followed individual winner Ridgeline’s Alivia Bruno (20:12.18) across the finish but led a handful of Blackhawks who copped four of the top six finishes. Hannah Ward (3rd/20:31.78), Karlee Pope (4/20:41.52) and Tenaya Belsby (6/21:24.39) were in that group.

Next for Cheney is the District-8 Regional on Saturday, Oct 29 at Veterans Memorial Golf Course in Walla Walla.

Going into the competition, Slaughter considers his boys as one of the favorites.

“There are four top 10 teams in the race — Mead, Mt. Spokane, Cheney and Hermiston, Ore. One of these teams will be left home,” Slaughter said. “I believe our boys have what it takes to get through, but they have to have a good race.”

Cheney girls, based on their last meet, “Are back in the thick of it for qualifying,” Slaughter said. “Mead, Mt. Spokane, Hermiston, Ridgeline and us all have a shot to get a team to state.”

Paul Delaney is a retired Free Press Publishing reporter and can be reached at pauldelaney53@comcast.net.