Slaughter sees good things for Cheney cross country.

CHENEY – The first rule when talking to Blackhawks cross country Coach Derek Slaughter is to not use the term “runners” when discussing his team.

They are athletes, he insists.

And those Blackhawks athletes have some lofty goals, particularly the boys.

For the guys, they graduated one notable varsity runner, Adam Estock, Slaughter said. “Out of our top 10, we lost two so eight are returning.”

In evaluating that group, Slaughter said “We added two extra guys that were part of that big group of eight that I think I had 10 guys train harder than anyone in the summer before.”

Slaughter loves the makeup of his 2023 team which is “junior heavy” and relies largely on the experience gained last year at state. Then sophomores, Calvin Hilton (16th) and Brayden Martin (51st) were the top two Cheney finishers and helped lead them to either-place as a team behind Seattle Prep.

Hilton and Martin, along with Cameron Frenk, as well as Ethan Martin who ran as a freshman, are the foundation for Cheney. “Last year we were sophomore heavy, this year we’re junior heavy,” Slaughter said.

The 10 current members of the varsity who have trained all off season call their goal “Podium 2023.”

“They don’t just want to be at state, they were just at state last year,” Slaughter said. “They want to stand on the podium, and I think that includes individuals and as a team.”

There’s two-year window for this group who reaches an interesting intersection in their young lives, according to Slaughter.

“It’s the year they drive a car, it’s the year of getting more responsibilities in school,” Slaughter explained. “And I think the boys are turning that corner, where their work ethic and their maturity are gonna’ meet up.”

The biggest question mark will be the girls who lost four senior runners, and as a team finished 12th behind Central Kitsap at the state meet in Pasco. One of those was senior Sam Habegger who was Cheney’s top finisher in 59th.

But three athletes —Karlee Pope plus Hannah Ward and Maggie Boggs — are all a year older, can keep Cheney in the chase and do so with some unique experience.

“The majority of the girls’ team have touched the grass at state which is huge,” Slaughter said.

Cheney also returns state wheelchair champion Caitlin Shaffer, now a sophomore who has trained through the summer in para-sports.

Unknowns for the girls are the incoming freshmen, but until they run with the rest of the team not much is known about how they can affect the outcomes.

Cheney first faces a tough gauntlet of Greater Spokane League competition where Mead and Mount Spokane have been dominant in recent years.

“Mead’s on their last year of a huge class, Mount Spokane beat that class last year with a young squad and I think Ferris girls are up and coming,” Slaughter said.

Just three state team allocations come from the GSL with up to five girls’ teams fighting for those berths.

“I can tell you on the guys’ side, it’s us, Mount Spokane and probably Mead,” Slaughter said.

A critical cog Slaughter said in the foundation is Cheney Middle School XC coach Troy Audet who “Is doing an amazing job.”

“These kids are coming in excited about cross country, they know what it’s about,” Slaughter said. “They’re not scared.”

One of those newcomers who is of particular interest to Slaughter is Calvin Hilton’s younger brother Sam. He was the second best eighth grader in the state last spring in track.

“I’m hoping for some Hilton magic,” Slaughter said. The last time Cheney won a state title was 1989 when the Hilton’s dad, Dan, was on the team. “If we get enough Hiltons on the team, I feel like that could be like a secret recipe.”