Mercer Island dominates to win team title
The Cheney Blackhawks boys team celebrates its Nov. 9 third-place finish in the 3A State Cross Country Championship at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco. The team inclues Coach Johnson, Coach Mosley, Henry Cindric, Dallin Davis, Carter Ward, Cameron Frenk, Lucas Matos, Ethan Martin, Brayden Martin, Sam Hilton, Holland Hurd, Andrew Ward, Liam Frantzich, Lucas Curley, Calvin Hilton, Coach Slaughter and Coach Greiner.
There was no catching Mercer Island in the state 3A cross country championships, Nov. 9 on the fairways of Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco.
The Cheney boys, however, battled hard and reurned to the podium with a third-place team finish and just a finish difference away from second.
While the champions were never challenged for the title with 68 points, the battle between Central Kitsap and Cheney came down to the final 800 meters according to Blackhawks coach Derek Slaughter.
A 10-point gap separated the teams, Central Kitsap scoring 121 to Cheney's 131.
"I think it was a great result for the boys since we were sitting in second until the last 800 meters," Slaughter wrote in a text message. "We left happy but still hungry to get to the top of the podium."
Mercer Island's phenom, Owen Powell, ran a dominating 14 minute, 44.9 second time to claim the individual title. Cheney's Samuel Hilton was 19th and the top Blackhawk at 15:51.0 with teammates Cameron Frenk (21/15:54.8) and Holland Hurd (23/15:57.2) right behind.
"Those boys were our rocks with Brayden Martin right behind," Slaughter said. "We were one top finisher away from getting even farther up the podium."
Cheney's girls were 12th as a team and led by Hannah Ward's 15th at 18:39.9. Sophia Rodriguez made it a Mercer Island sweep winning in a time of 16:48.1.
"Hannah had an amazing race and lifetime PRd again," Slaughter said. "She is just getting started, the sky is the limit on her abilities," he said, adding "She woke up a lot of college coaches will how she ended the season."
Wheelchair athlete Cailtin Shaffer won her second state championship in three tries.
"She ended on such a great note with her whole team and family watching," Slaughter said. "Bob Hunt is her coach and deserves all the accolades for how well coached she was this year. He is my vote for Coach of the year."
See complete finishes elsewhere in this edition.
Cheney earned a berth in its first championship division race at Nike Cross Country Northwest Regionals in Boise, Nov. 16.
Reader Comments(0)