NE runners book solid finish at state

Qualifiers from the NE league booked a solid day Saturday at the state run at Sun Willows in Pasco, but Northwest Christian of Lacey lived up to advance billing to take the team honors. Lucas Schilter of Lacey clocked 15:56.40 on the state course for a 20-second edge over second-place Daniel Ness of DeSales.

The NW-Lacey team finished with 64 points.

Thomas Weaklund of Asotin, top NE runner, placed sixth at 16:36.

Weaklund was topped in the season's last race by Tyler Shea from the NE's Northwest Christian who finished third at 16:27. Jack Ammon of NWC placed fourth at 16:35.

Those two finishes advanced the Colbert entry to fourth place in the team tally with a 138.

Asotin, the team winner at the regional here last week, placed fifth at 174, and St. George's placed seventh at 223.

Rosalia sophomore Gavin Merritt again topped the county finishers with a 18:03.9 for 42nd place among the 155 starters in the state race.

Finishers for Colfax were Chase Baerlocher, 54th at 18:15.6; Ryley Griffiths, 67th at 18:33.6, and Carson Cloaninger, 120th at 19:34. Baerlocher is a junior, and Griffiths and Cloaninger are sophomores.

St. George's Madison Ward, top runner for the NE girls, placed second at state with a 19:20, 28 seconds behind winner Novee McCabe of Liberty Bell. The team win also went to Liberty Bell.

Asotin girls placed fourth in the team tally with an 88 behind NWC Lacey, second with 64, and NWC-Colbert, third with 87.

Emily Adams of Waitsburg/Prescott, second at the regional here last week, placed eighth at state with a 19:41.5.