Merritt breaks 16 mark in NE final at Wilbur

Gavin Merritt of Tekoa/Rosalia ran to a big win Saturday in the District Nine cross-country race on the Wilbur Golf Course by breaking the 16-minute mark with a 15:54 time for the 5,000 meters. Merritt finished 1:06 in front of Kettle's Easton Pomrankey who clocked 17:02 for second place.

Asotin topped the team score with 51 points, and the Colfax boys finished second with 88.

Colfax girls placed third as a team with Anna Cocking and Tayma Vanek in the top 10 behind winner Mya Edwards of Kettle Falls, who clocked 19:27. Cocking placed eighth at 20:50 and Vanek ninth at 21:05.

Asotin girls topped team score with 48, one point ahead of St. George's.

Colfax boys bagged 11th, 12th and 13th with Kolby Slate at 17:34, Ryley Griffiths at 17:35 and Evan Henning at 17:38. Other finishers for the boys were Josh Huber, 21st at 17:52; Carson Cloaninger, 36th at 18:45; Dyamin Vanek, 54th at 19:28; Tyler Bober, 64th at 19:55, and Jacob Jones, 79th at 21:18.

Other finishers for the girls were Miya Ensley, 15th at 22:03; Madison Dingman, 19th at 22:14; Emma Miller, 44th at 26:54; Madeline Tate, 54th at 28:47, and Abigael Lobdell, 58th at 29:55.

Other finishers for the TR boys were Isaac Leighton, 16th at 17:44; Jaedyn Norwood 32nd at 18:33; Erik Lazcano, 67th at 20:06; Zane Neill, 68th at 20:18; Alex McHargue, 94th at 23:01, and Bryce Casey, 100th at 25:03.

Finishers for the TR girls were Trinity Bingaman, 20th at 22:20; Kaelyn Olson, 57th at 29:43; Lillian Shaw-Sands, 59th at 30:22, and Josalyn Peters, 64th at 32:08.

Colfax eighth grader Jorga Slate finished third in the 1.5-mile girls junior high race at 9:21, 26 seconds back of winner Sarah McCaffey of Republic.

Next XC race will be the regional run at Harrington Saturday. The race will be a state qualifier with the top four teams and top 20 individuals advancing to the state B race the following week in Pasco.