Huge senior group drives Cheney boys cross country

CHENEY – There’s a great deal of factors driving the Cheney boys’ cross country team into and through the 2024 season.

But the biggest just might be the senior class wants to go out as the group history will remember.

“We have the largest senior class in Cheney high school cross country history, 17 senior boys alone and with that comes some expectations,” head boys coach Derek Slaughter said during the school’s media day, Aug. 29.

That group was part of the team in 2023 that seemed to not perform up to personal expectations with a seventh-place team finish in 3A competition at state in Pasco.

Cheney’s 167 points left them just shy of a podium finish, earned by Bishop Blanchet with 163 points. Seattle Prep earned the team title with 80 points while Greater Spokane League’s Mt. Spokane was second with 123.

Calvin Hilton was the Blackhawks’ top individual, finishing ninth in a time of 15 minutes, 53.4 seconds of the 5,000-meter course.