Morgan Willson takes state win 49 seconds ahead of the B pack

Colfax senior Morgan Willson Saturday morning posted a big win in the girls state B cross country race at Sun Willows golf course in Pasco. Willson finished at 18:36, 49 seconds ahead of Sierra Speiker of Oroville.

The two competitors ran away from the 71 runners who launched on the Pasco golf course this year. The day’s full program was delayed for 30 minutes because the Sun Willows course was covered by frost in the early morning hours.

Willson returned to the top slot on the awards stand after winning the race two years ago as a sophomore. Last year, Speiker, then a freshman, . took the win.

On oddity of the Willson record at state: her 18:36 winning time Saturday matched her winning time two years ago as a sophomore.

Saturday, Willson took an early lead over the field of 71 soon after the start and led Speiker by about 20 yards at the one mile mark when the runners passed the main crowd in the finish area for the first time.

Speiker was 11 seconds ahead of the number-three runner, Elizabeth Weber of NW Christian of Lacey who again collected team honors.

Willson plans to attend Whitworth next year after finishing out her running career next spring with the Colfax track team.

Reardan of the NE league, led by freshman Harley Strope in fifth place, took second place team honors, and Asotin’s SE entry placed thirds.

Heather Siegel, SJE sophomore, placed 12th at 20:36 with a group of runners hitting the finish chute at the same time.

The SJE team won the state academic honor for girls for the all-B competition.

In the boys’ race, Colfax sophomore Jackson Elfers placed 34th at 17:58 behind the 16:17 win by Lucas Graham of NWC-Lacey. Brock Morgan placed 74th for Colfax at 19:03.

Caleb Rich, SJE junior, was 92nd at 19:33.

Chase Teigen of Asotin, one of the top competitiors in the SE, finished in second place, six seconds back of Graham.

Seth Deal of Waitsburg/Prescott finished 16th in the field of 140 runers in the all-B race.