On Saturday, Nov. 9, three junior girl Rivals and the boys team competed at the WIAA 1A Cross Country State Championships at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco, WA. The 5k …
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On Saturday, Nov. 9, three junior girl Rivals and the boys team competed at the WIAA 1A Cross Country State Championships at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco, WA. The 5k course was dry with stable footing and featured rolling hills. Temperatures were in the 30s, but climbed into the 40s by the time of the boys race at 12 p.m.
The girls raced first, at 10, in a field of 154 athletes. Leah Ferland was the top EJ finisher in a personal record (PR) of 21:19 for 50th place. She was followed by Hilina Taylor-Lenz who had an impressive PR of 44 seconds to run 21:44 and capture 68th place. Michael Gregg finished her season with a 118th place finish and a time of 23:25.
The boys team took 7th place overall out of 16 full teams, superseding expectations. They were only one point behind Colville, the 6th place finisher. For the 4th State Championship year in a row they were the highest placing team from their district, this year defeating both Vashon and Annie Wright who had been ranked ahead of them going into the championships. In the 155 person race, the team was led by sophomores Joshua Yearian (36th, 16:56) and Noah Isenberg (37th, 17:02). Junior Dustin Hines had a stunning performance passing 30 runners in the final mile to place 39th with a 46 second PR of 17:08. He was followed by teammates sophomore Nico Errichetti (80th, PR 17:46) and freshman Rainier Smith Williams (82nd, 17:47). It was Smith Williams final race as a Rival before his return to Asheville, North Carolina and he made an impression with a 34 second PR. Freshman Zeke Banks (130th, 18:59) and sophomore Atom Barrett (139th, PR 19:25) rounded out the EJ team of seven.
It is notable that such a young group of athletes was able to do so well at the State Championships. There was not a single senior competing for EJ at the event, so besides Smith Williams, all the athletes should be returning next season. The girls team is expecting an influx of new runners in 2025 and from both teams we can expect some impressive performances throughout the season next year and a strong showing at the District and State Championships.
Alice Fraser is the head cross country coach and assistant track and field coach for the East Jefferson Rivals.
