Cross country teams aim for state

St. John/Endicott racers will begin the countdown to the state cross country finals Saturday with the SE league run at Beachfront Park in Clarkston. The SE district meet will not eliminate runners from the state countdown, but it will give runners an idea of their chances in the big regional round next week.

Eagle Coach Andrea Miller notes Asotin and Tri Cities Prep are the SE powers. In the regional meet at Pasco, the SE runners will mix it up on the Big Cross course in an elimination round with NE runners from District 7.

That means the consistent top finisher in the NE, with strong teams Northwest Christian and St. George's, will be out to pick off the entry slots at Pasco’s Sun Willows course Nov. 8.

Asotin boys booked the first four finishes Oct. 15 in the SE league meet on the SJE golf course. The Panthers dominate the 5K race with their top runner, Chandler Teigen out of the lineup

Shania Bailey had the best finish for the Eagles with a 22:27.86 to place second behind winner Lucy Eggleston of Asotin who clocked 21:36.18 for the win in the girls race. Zoe Robertson placed fourth for SJE with a 23:36.21.

Asotin had the lone team entry in the girls race.

Brady McKay led a field of 31 boys with a 19:42.33 clocking over the St. John course which includes a loop around Webb's slough. The race was run in windy conditions Thomas Wealand of Asotin was a close second with 19:42.81.

Kaleb Kolb finished sixth to again lead the host Eagle team with a 20:37. Also finishing for SJE were Tanner Dingman, 15th at 22;15.65, Parker Perry, 17th at 22:41.33, and Jacob Blakeley, 26th at 25:16.68.

NE race at Audubon

Colfax and Tekoa/Rosalia runners will complete Saturday in the NE league race at Audubon Park in Spokane. The NE during the fall campaign has split assignments at two sites during Tuesday’s race day so the Audubon run will mark a large gathering of the league competition.

The NE league round at Audubon also will not be an elimination race for the state grid but serve as a tuner for the big regional run at Big Cross next week in Pasco.