Freeman runners edge Medical Lake in cross country

FREEMAN – Kaylee Dennler won the girls individual race, but Freeman pushed across just enough runners in the Top 5 to win the final Northeast A League cross country race, 28-32 at Freeman High School on Oct. 19.

Freeman’s boys put four runners in the Top 5 and scored 22 points to Riverside’s 42 and Medical Lake’s 66. Both boys and girls won 15-50 over Newport which did not field the required seven runners.

Dennler’s 21 minute, 45 second time was nearly a minute ahead of the first Freeman runner, Ella Jones (22:25). The Cardinals ran 5-6-7 with Mya Gardner (23:24), Hazel Grubaugh (23:28) and Autumn Trout (23:30) all in the top-10.

Cade Spencer from Riverside turned in a 16:47 and had top time for the boys.

This is the first NEA meet where Medical Lake failed to have a boys runner in the top 10 as Hector Gomez (20:37/11th) paced a group of Cardinals that also included Aiden Murillo (20:38/12), George Pitts (20:39/13) and Nakai Ornelas (20:39/14).

Next for Medical Lake is district competition at the Chewelah Golf and Country Club on­ Oct. 27.