Bulldogs face tough field for qualifier

Colfax runners will head for Plante’s Ferry Park in the Spokane Valley Friday in search of tickets to the state run Nov. 6 at Pasco. Bulldog junior Morgan Willson tops the ranking on the girls side of the NE and should lead the qualifiers Friday.

The regional qualifier is expected to bring in runners from as many as 12 NE schools. The girls can qualify two teams and the top 10 individual runners, and the boys can qualify four teams and 20 individuals.

Willson ‘s best time for a 5K course is 18:14 pegged last week at the league meet in Davenport. She and Sierra Speiker, a freshman from Oroville, top the state ratings for girls in the B division.

Colfax will have enough runners to contend for a boys team entry, but they will need to crank it up to qualify. Republic, which has four runners in the top 10 ratings will be favored for the team win.

Republic’s Jon Bennett tops the boys charts with a 16.32. Davenport and Northwest Christian also figure to be tough in the team completion.

Maxwell Choka of NWC is rated number two behind Bennett and could battle for the win. Choka’s best clocking in the 5K is just six seconds back of Bennett.

The state run will be back at Pasco’s Sun Willows course on Saturday, Nov. 6.