Medical Lake take third at state cross-country championships - 2019 sports top 10 year-in-review

MEDICAL LAKE — The Cardinal cross-country team had to settle for third place at the state 1A cross country championship meet at Pasco’s Sun Willow Golf Course in November.

“I was really pleased with our kids,” head coach Gene Blankenship said. “They competed really well.”

He was quick to point out that, as a team, “Finishing third is respectable.”

Team leaders included Victor Long, Quintin Collins, Reid Headrick, Angel Mendez, Jeremiah Windle with “one of his best races of the year,” Connor Palmen and Benjamin Henry.

It was the boys’ eighth trip to state, according to Blankenship, and despite the third-place team finish, times were “considerably faster than last year.”

When the results were first announced he admitted to some disappointment and began trying to work out what his team had done wrong.

“But when I looked at the times, we were significantly faster than last year,” Blankenship said.

Three Cardinals girls competed at the state as well. Allison Payne led Cardinal runners, with Jenna Castro and Paige Headrick close behind.

“Having all three of them under 21 minutes is an incredible effort on their part,” Blankenship said. “Allison also ran faster than last year by 16 seconds.”

It will likely be the same competitors at next year’s state tournament, according to Blankenship.

Medical Lake will have five starters returning — but so will Lakeside.

Lee Hughes can be reached at [email protected].