Cheney boys roll in cross country

CHENEY – The cross country team got one final tune-up before district competition by cruising past Ferris, Gonzaga Prep and Ridgeline in a Greater Spokane League meet at home Oct. 17.

The Blackhawks’ boys had five of the Top 6 finishers and put six runners in the Top 10, scoring 18 points to 68 for Ferris, Prep’s 74 and Ridgeline’s 81.

Ferris’ 28 points outdistanced Cheney (52), Ridgeline (68) and Prep (73) on the girls’ side over the 5,000-meter course.

“Both the guys and girls handled their business on the course,” head Coach Derek Slaughter wrote in an email.

Cheney’s Calvin Hilton ran a 16 minute, 29 second time to win with Cameron Frenk (16:41.5) not far behind. Only Prep’s Scotty McIntyre in third (16:48.5) broke up a Blackhawk’s’ sweep.

Lucas Matos (16:59.0) was fourth for Cheney followed by Samuel Hilton (17:02.8) and Holland Hurd (17:06.6).

“The boys were tasked to run as a team for 1.5 miles and unleash on the course the last 1.6,” Slaughter said. Cheney ended up beating all teams and placed third in the GSL standings, the highest finish yet.

Alayna Ditto from Ferris won again for her girls’ team in 19:40.0 leading a 1-2-3 Saxon finish.

Hannah Ward’s 19:54.8 was fourth for Cheney with Karlee Pope (20:43.8) seventh.

The Cheney girls handled all but Ferris on the night and finished fifth in the GSL standings.

Focus now is on District 8 championships, Saturday, Sept. 28 at Wandermere Golf Course in Spokane, where state berths will be filled.