Dugger wins SE race at Pomeroy: NE, SE runners will race at Colfax for state tickets

Gavin Merritt, Tekoa/Rosalia, finished second at Harrington Saturday.

Runners from the SE and NE districts will compete at Colfax Golf Course Saturday for tickets to the state championship run at Sun Willows in Pasco. The top 28 finishers in each race will advance to state, and all members of the top four teams on each side will qualify.

The St. George’s won team honors for boys and girls in the District 7 cross-country run at Harrington Saturday. The event drew 96 runners in the boys race and 48 in the girls race.

The SE race at Pomeroy last Thursday had 15 entrants in the boys race and four in the girls race.

Team scores for the boys at Harrington were St. George’s 37, Asotin 49, Northwest Christian 92, Springdale 98, Valley Christian 141, Kettle Falls 149, Wilbur/Creston 158, and Wellpinit 198.

Colfax and Tekoa/Rosalia lacked enough runners to book a team score.

Team scores on the girls side were St. George’s 35, Asotin 41, Northwest Christian 61 and Colfax 75.

That number-four team finish could advance the Colfax girls to state as a unit if they can repeat Saturday on the home course.

Northwest Christian senior Tyler Shea posted another strong win with a 16:41 over the 5,000 meters at Harrington, and Gavin Merritt of Tekoa/Rosalia placed second at 17:35. Merritt finished seven seconds ahead of Springdale senior Garret Willey.

Ryley Griffiths placed 16th to lead the Colfax boys with a time at 18:77.

Other finishers for the Bulldog boys were Carson Cloaninger, 21st -18:33; Chase Baerlocher, 23rd-18:35, and Josh Huber, 80th-23:38.

Other finishers for the Timberwolves were Issac Leighton, 28th-18:39; Jaedyn Norwood, 29th-18:8:41, and Zane Neill-41st -19:20.

Tayma Vanek placed 16th at 23:17 behind the 19:48 win posted by Jora Gleason of St. George’s on the girls side.

Other finishers for the Bulldogs were Alicia Knee, 26th - 24:18; Rebekah Huber, 29th - 24:41; Isabelle Erickson, 30th -24:42; Emma Miller, 37th -26:44; Kiah Miller, 38th -26.46, Riley Martin, 39th -26:52; Abigail Huber-42nd -28:27, and Chelsea Becker, 44th -28:44.

Amy Bennett placed 35th for Tekoa/Rosalia at 25:50.

Dawson Dugger of Garfield/Palouse topped the boys race at Pomeroy with a 19:54, and the Vikings had the lone team score at 15.

Trae Anderson of St. John/Endicott finished 8.1 seconds back of Dugger.

Other finishers for the Vikings were Logan Diets, fourth-21;51; Eddie O’Neal, sixth-22:34; Ethan Cook, seventh-22:43; Danny Laughery, ninth-23:30: Daniel Kramer, 11th-24:00; Christian Burt, 14th-29:05, and Curtis Nordstrom, 15th-31:34.

Anais Mills of Garfield/Palouse topped the four entrants in the girls race with a 22:03. Other finishers were Ellie Tollett of SJE, 25:49; Megan Dye of Pomeroy 27:17, and Guinevere Richmond of SJE, 23:00.