Medical Lake girls score huge upset XC win

MEDICAL LAKE – High school cross country coach Gene Blankenship had a hunch his girls team had some potential this season.

Their efforts at the Runners’ Soul race in Hermiston, Oregon, Sept. 14 certainly validated things following a shocking team championship where the Cardinals topped a host of much bigger schools.

Medical Lake got a No. 4 overall finish from Kaylee Dennler in 20 minutes, 53.98 seconds and a crucial battle won by the Cards’ No. 5 finisher, Katelyn Hoffer (23:38.38, 38th overall) to edge 4A Kamiakin 72-73 on the 5,000-meter course.

“Kaylee beat the first girl from Kamiakin who’s rated number eight in the 4A,” Blankenship said. The only disappointment for the junior runner was not being able to get into the 19-second group.

West Valley of Yakima’s Zoey Moon was the top female individual in 19:58.34.

Mya Gardner (12th, 21:47.74), Hannah Luzier (14th, 21:52.98) and Autumn Trout (20th, 22:17.48), Katelyn Hoffer (38th, 23:38.38) and Makalia McKenny (64th, 26:53.34) were other finishers for Medical Lake which had just six rather than seven runners in the event.

The Cardinals finish impressed coaches across the state who voted them No. 3 among 1A schools in the most recent poll.

Along with the win, Blankenship liked the overall efforts and improvement shown by the group who all surpassed times on the course from a year ago.

The finish had Blankenship hoping for a top finish but never dreaming it would be as champions.

The race consisted of two loops Blankenship explained.

“We go through the first lap, and I go, ‘My God, we’re leading the race,’” he said.