Blackhawks runners split up for first CC competition

By JOHN McCALLUM

Managing Editor

Cheney High’s boys and girls cross country squads made their 2018 debuts last Saturday — albeit in different locations about 105 miles apart.

The Blackhawk girls had the farthest to travel, competing in the Moses Lake Invitational at Blue Heron Park in a format that was more traditional to what both teams will be seeing over the course of the season. The two high school races were each 5,000 meters, with varsity and junior varsity teams competing.

Cheney’s varsity girls placed fourth overall with 81 points, two behind hosts Moses Lake and 38 back of meet champion Deer Park of the Northeast A League.

Sophomores Marion Mager-Reeser and Mayah Spakousky along with junior Ryleigh Bowes led the Blackhawks with top-20 finishes. Mager-Reeser was 11th in a time of 22 minutes, 39.16 seconds, with Spakousky 2.20 seconds back in 12th and Bowes in 18th in 23:12.44.

Alexia Batchelor was 25th in 23:53.86 and Megan Habegger was 28th in 24:24.04 to round out Cheney’s top-five scoring runners. Caelyn Foster and Camber Moad finished 32nd and 33rd.

Cheney’s JV emerged as meet champion in their race, out-pointing second-place Tri-Cities Prep 20-38. Anna Richardson, Maisie Short, Riley Brown and Halle Sargent finished in the 3-6 slots, with Megan Christianson 10th, Sadie Rison 33rd and Vanessa Flowers 34th.

The boys team made the short hop to Spokane for the annual Highlander Invitational at Shadle Park High School, a 2.5-mile race run by grade levels. The Blackhawks juniors turned in the highest finish, placing fourth overall with 102 points, well back of the top three finishers Walla Walla, Rogers (Spokane) and champs Mead.

Bas Holland was Cheney’s highest placer, coming in third in 13:07.72, just over three seconds behind winner Eliason Kabasenche of Great Northern League rival Pullman. Kyle Peabody was 24th in 14:34.12, with Andres Magraf 38th in 15:08.25 and JT Gasper 47th in 15:28.38 to complete Cheney’s top-four scorers.

Cheney’s seniors placed sixth with 99 points, led by Julian Torres 15th-place finish in 14:08.33. Torres was followed by scorers Dillon Newbry (34th, 14:49.60), Chayce Crawford (47th, 15:09.79) and Jameson Powell (65th, 15:56.97).

Beckett Schoenleber led a sophomore team that finished 14th, nabbing Cheney’s only other top-10 finish by placing ninth in 14:20.44. Dylan Thornburg led eight other Cheney freshmen who combined to finish 14th, with Thornburg in 50th.

John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].