Cross Country Roads: Long distance running is a rite of autumnal passage
Looking Ahead: Motivated runners get moving across local cross country landscape
Don Schaplow for Blast Zone Media
blastzonemedianews@gmail.com
With the return of fall comes Roosevelt elk bugling in the hills, salmon migrating into local tributaries, and the cracking of football pads. Let’s not forget that other time-honored tradition; Our local cross country runners are back on the Lower Columbia landscape and back roads pushing for their best times yet..Â
Here’s a brief look around at the high school teams in the Blast Zone Media coverage area to find out what coaches have learned so far this season.
WASHINGTON TERRITORY
KELSOÂ HILANDERS
 The Lads and Lassies east of I-5 will once again be a strong force in the 3A Greater St. Helens League. Coach Tim Wines will rely on the tough trio of Jesus Rios, Will Cheslock, and Owen Galagher to anchor his boys’ team. Junior Mia Johnson and standout frosh Aurora Hiebert have already had early success in the young season for the Lassies. Look for Kelso and Prairie to once again battle for the league crown.Â
MARK MORRIS MONARCHS
Mathias White, Tate Armstrong and Braydon Sweetin will provide a solid 1-2-3 punch for Mark Brumbaugh’s Monarchs this season in the 2A Greater St. Helens League. A solid group of sub-20 minute teammates should help the cause as well. On the MM girls side, look for sophomore Elsie Herold to carry the load. She recently placed first in a three way meet versus Hudson’s Bay and Columbia River. Â
R.A. LONG LUMBERJACKS/JILLS
With a record 52 runners turned out this season, things look bright in Jack and Jill Land. Coach Keli Hancock (13th yr.) fields an inexperienced but competitive boys team in the 2A GSHL. That group of Lumberjacks will be led by lone senior Andres Orozco Stansbery, who is looking to make a three-peat trip to the State meet in Pasco this fall, with a goal of a top 16th place on the podium. Meanwhile, Elliana Higgins leads a tough group of Lumberjills as she shoots to run a time close to 19 minutes.Â
WOODLAND BEAVERS
Coach Melanie Holmes will direct the Beavers into another season of 2A GSHL competition, with senior Alejandro Alvarado and sophomore Logan Speranza leading the way. On the girls’ side, Couly McReynolds and Kaylynn McSmith will compete tightly with each other this season with their sights set on postseason for Woodland as well.Â
CASTLE ROCK ROCKETS
Coach Bob Pliler noted that adding Kalama and Fort Vancouver to the 1A Trico League will dramatically change the landscape, hopefully offering increased State meet allocations.Â
Either way, the Castle Rock girls teams will look to make a State team bid this season. Two-time 400 meter State champion Casie Kleine has started out strong in the longest distance event this fall, placing fourth out of 180 runners at the recent Three Course Challenge in Seaside, Oregon. Jack Kerker leads the Castle Rock boys’ squad, but has so far been battling an injury with hopes to returning to full strength soon.Â
KALAMA CHINOOKSÂ
Coach Andrew Perri (2nd yr.) is ready to embrace the challenge as his Chinooks make the jump upstream to the 1A Trico League. Seton Catholic and Columbia White Salmon will things tough, but the potential is there for this young, hard-working group featuring the leadership of standout pole vaulter Sam Kalimanis on the boys’ team. Toss in a strong middle school squad and the ‘Nooks have lots to look forward to already.
TOLEDO RIVERHAWKSÂ
For the first time in recent history, Toledo looks to potentially send a full boys team to State in Pasco this season. Freshman Conner Hill is a strong addition to a team led by Treyton Marty. Now a senior, Marty placed third overall last season at the State cross country meet and should battle for the State title this year along with Dexter Delaney of Liberty Bell (Winthrop, WA). An improved nutrition plan has boosted his efforts, and coach Kyle Askin (3rd yr.) said Marty has his sights set on possibly cracking the 16 minute barrier in a 5K race at either the upcoming Harvest Classic, or at the Fast and Flat meet at White Pass.
WINLOCK CARDINALSÂ
The Cardinals are looking for big things this season from coach Tony Quezada (2nd yr.). The young boys team boasts only one senior and one junior. Xavier Sancho-Corillo will set the pace, with Quezada relying heavily on sophomores Mason Ruiz, Jacob Trodahl, and Freddy Patching to push each other. The team strength should lie in the entire team’s ability to finish close together. On the girls’ side, State sprinter Victoria Sancho will look to return to state, along with Natalie Cardenas Hernandez. They are both multi-sport athletes, playing soccer in addition to running cross country, and should have strong seasons.Â
ILWACO FISHERMENÂ
Coach Sarah Taylor’s (16th yr.) Fishermen will have a lot to learn this season. The Ilwaco boys’ team will feature a frosh heavy lineup, led by Sammy Lloyd. Meanwhile, freshman Elsa Linquist will set the pace for the girls’ squad. The Fishermen will run at North Beach on Thursday.
THREE RIVERS CHRISTIAN EAGLES
The Eagles, once again under the direction of Kevin Rentner (14th yr.), have an optimistic eye on the future with senior Josiah Montanez leading the way. Three Rivers will run out an exceedingly young high school group this season, with a powerful middle school team in the wings. Eighth grader Tennisyn Knapp recently placed 16th in the 2500 meter run at a national level middle school race. Those sort of results, and a talented teammate to help push him, should make both Knapp and Montanez realistic candidates for State berths.Â
WAHKIAKUM MULES
Lone senior Noah Sandhu will set the pace for Wahkiakum as the team settles into the 1BÂ ranks this season. Head coach Tiffany Niemeyer will once again have the reins for the Mules, with a solid bunch of underclassmen who will lay the groundwork for a bright future in Cathlamet.
NASELLE COMETSÂ
Across the other side of KM Pass, the Comets in the midst of their second year under the leadership of head coach Amber Frank and boasts robust turnout on the boys and girls teams this fall. Ceasar Garcia and Karsen Green are each seeking repeat appearances at Pasco, and Trajen Ford is hoping to take the next step(s) toward the front of the pack. Meanwhile, Eighth grader Kenzie Larson has been impressive, and will come up to compete at the varsity level as well, adding a needed boost to the girl team.
THE OREGON TRAIL
CLATSKANIE TIGERSÂ
Youth dominates coach Zach Davis’ squad this season as the Tigers look to find traction in the 2A OSAA ranks. Keep an eye on the Clatskanie Middle School gang as they work to provide reinforcements at the varsity level sooner than later in Oregon Country.
RAINIER COLUMBIANSÂ
Coach Sydney Crawford’s Columbians will field a team without any seniors on the boys’ side this season. Instead, the Rainier boys will be led by junior Ethan Cox. On the girls’ side, expect lone senior Carmalene Tygret to set the pace on the trails of Oregon.
LOOSE SPIKESÂ
Most folks may not know that the distance of a typical high school cross country race is 3.1 miles, or 5000 meters. Race times vary greatly meet to meet because each course has such different terrain. Yet another curiosity that makes the sport so unique.
MUD GRIPS
Want a real show? Forget the monster truck rally. Just wait a few weeks for our seasonal fall rainstorms to create a true mud-bath of humanity at your local cross country meet. It’s a real hoot, and a sight to behold, as athletes fight for position while trying to stay upright. Parents, be sure to stock up on (insert paid laundry detergent sponsorship here) and (insert paid adhesive bandage sponsorship here) in advance. There’s sure to be plenty of stains and boo-boos at the finish line.
SPEAK THE LANGUAGEÂ
Runners have a language all their own and it even comes across in preferred shorthand when it’s time to write it all down for posterity. Here’s a few notations you’re sure to see if you hang around the starting line long enough.
XC = Cross Country
PR = Personal Record
K = 1000 meters… as in 5K, or 3.1 miles. (See: Loose Spikes, above.)