Runners compete in state meet

PASCO - The Medical Lake girls cross country team finished fourth in the state 2A meet Saturday, Nov. 4 at Sun Willows Golf Course.

It's a spot lower than their 2022 finish.

Meanwhile, the boys equaled their ninth-place from a year ago.

But that did not deter Coach Gene Blankenship from being pleased with what transpired in a crazy season that began under the pall of the tragedy and devastation of the Gray Fire, Aug. 18.

"I was pretty pleased, I was hoping the girls could get into that third spot," Blankenship said.

Considering his seven runners only lost one senior, that move - or even a higher one - could come in 2024?

Medical Lake earned 168 points with Seattle Academy (138) and King's (138) finishing between the Cardinals and team champ Lakeside's 128.

Sophomore Kaylee Dennler 19:47.10 finished at No. 13. One of the more pleasant surprises came from freshman Mya Gardner (21:10.80/41st), the No. 2 finisher on the team.

Kaitlyn Wiley (21:33.60/55), the lone senior, was Medical Lake's third runner with four potential returnees following her: Hazel Grubaugh (21.37.90/57/junior), Hannah Luzier (22:00.5/73/junior), Autumn Trout (22:02.80/75 and Madi Griffis (24:31.70/1412) - both freshman - rounding out the contingent.

"Autumn (Trout), she was our six runner," Blankenship said. "She out kicked a whole lot of people in the last quarter-mile of that race which really made their scores higher and put us into a solid fourth."

Junior Nakai Ornelas was the Cardinals' top boy in ninth (16:31.10) behind the 16:01.60 of Ann Wright Academy's race winner Will Carroll.

Medical Lake junior Hector Gomez (17:26.10/45th) slipped on the rainy grass. Following the stumble, Gomez slid down the hill and lost valuable positioning, the coach said.

"We ran in pretty sloppy conditions," Blankenship said. "It was one of those things where Friday was a perfect day and Saturday we woke up to a rainstorm."

The Cardinals racked up 192 points effectively tying them with Cascade (Leavenworth) but losing ton a tiebreaker at No. 6 runner.

Cedar Park Christian of Bothell with 68 points won the team crown. Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls) finished seventh with 190 points.

"I'm extremely happy with their performances," Blankenship said. "Our boys' team, our last three guys (are) freshman sophomore, sophomore," he added enthusiastically.

The rest of the Cardinal boys finishers included Garrett Montney (17:31-10/46th/junior), Hayden Luzier (17:46/60th/senior), George Pitts (20:04/152nd/freshman), Jesse Burt (20:08.30/153rd sophomore) and Loghan Bradley (20:52.80/158/sophomore).

Cheney Blackhawks

Cheney boys and girls competed in the 3A championships at Sun Willows.

The Blackhawk boys competed as a team, finishing seventh (167 points) behind champion Seattle Prep (80) and runnerup Mount Spokane with 123.

Calvin Hilton's 15: 53.40 time was ninth for the junior behind winner Owen Powell of Mercer Island's time of 15:19.20.

"The boys were 12 points short of their goal of a podium finish," Coach Derek Slaughter said. "We were disappointed, but not discouraged."

Other Cheney runners included Holland Hurd junior (16:45/42nd), Sam Hilton (16:51.30/45th/freshman), Lucas Matos (16:52.70/48th/junior), Cameron Frenk 17:05.30/64th/junior), Yuta Inoue (17:31.90/113th/junior) and Ethan Martin (17:33.10/118/sophomore).

"Seventh-place is a great finish and taking 100 points off last year's eighth place finish really shows the progress of this team," Slaughter said. All seven runners are expected back next year, among them Brayden Martin will look to reclaim a season lost to injury.

Cheney sent Hannah Ward (20:00.20/48th/junior) and Karlee Pope (20:42/90/95th/senior) to the competition won by Sophia Rodriguez from Mercer Island who topped the field at 17:21.90.

Pope, a converted soccer player, according to Slaughter, "Closed out her senior campaign as a two-year state runner and Hannah keeps moving up the finish list and looks to push for the top 30 next year," Slaughter said.

Sophomore, Caitlin Shaffer, who won the girls wheelchair championship in 2022, finished second. Shaffer (18:52.60) finished 4 minutes 41 seconds behind girls champion Lauren Fields of Valley Christian.

"Caitlin pushed valiantly to a second-place finish in the women's wheelchair competition," Slaughter said, noting the course was different from 2022. "She will look to rebound with a win next year," he added.

Liberty Lancers

Liberty (Spangle) Lancer junior Mitchell Hanegan finished 24th in the boys 2B race, completing the course in 17:57.20.