Whitman County runners qualify for state

CHEWELAH – Several Whitman County runners competed against each other as well as other schools in the 1B/2B Regional Cross Country meet at Chewelah Golf Course in Chewelah. A trip to state competition in Pasco on Nov. 5 was on the line – and several area runners booked their tickets.

For the boys' competitors – Garfield had six runners in the boys' 5,000 meter run and they all qualified.

Sophomore Kieran Snekvik finished fifth out of 97 runners with a time of 17:20.9, sophomore Brendan Snekvik finished seventh with a time of 17:22.2, freshman Isaiah Hightree finished 39th with a time of 19:10.3, freshman Ayden Bassler finished 54th with a time of 20:14, senior Josh Appel finished with a time of 20:29.6 and freshman Liam Cook finished 65th with a time of 20:53.3.

Tekoa-Rosalia had one varsity runner for the whole event, senior Erik Lazcano, who finished 14th with a time of 17:45.6. Lazcano qualified.

Colton had two runners compete in the boys' event. Freshman Tanner Baerlocher qualified with a 17th-place finish and a time of 18:07.6. Freshman Loren Heitstuman finished 86th with a time of 23:17.6. He did not qualify.

Colfax also had two runners compete, with one qualifying. Junior Jaxon Eades finished 26th with a time of 18:33.2 and qualified. Freshman Brandon Pringle finished 96th with a time of 96 seconds and did not qualify.

St. John-Endicott/LaCrosse had two runners compete in the boys' 5,000, with neither qualifying.

Senior Rory Maloney finished 50th with a time of 19:57.6 and sophomore Braiden Thomas finished 76th with a time of 22:11.

Colfax and Garfield-Palouse were the only two area schools that had athletes compete in the girls' 5,000-meter run. The Vikings had seven total runners and the Bulldogs had five.

All seven Garfield-Palouse runners qualified for the state meet at Pasco.

Senior Kennedy Cook finished sixth out of 45 total runners with a time of 20:57.2, Junior Ashleigh Hightree finished eighth with a time of 21:21.8, sophomore Courage Hightree finished ninth with a time of 21:42.4, freshman Charlotte Marshall finished 13th with a time of 22:42.6, junior Lola Edwards finished 14th with a time of 22:47, freshman HettyLee Laughary finished 19th with a time of 24:11.8 and senior Laynie Southern finished 26th with a time of 24:48.8.

Colfax's five runners missed out on a trip to state, but still had two finishes in the top 25.

Junior Destiny Nelson finished 21st with a time of 24:32.6, sophomore Gabby Rabiotti finished 22nd with a time of 24:42.5, sophomore Grace Jones finished 28th with a time of 25:11.6, freshman Queenie Mayer finished 36th with a time of 28:11 and sophomore Paige Cocking finished 37th with a time of 28:15.3.

Overall, Whitman County has 16 runners heading to state, with 13 coming from Garfield-Palouse, one from Tekoa-Rosalia, one from Colton and one from Colfax.

It's the first time the boys Garfield-Palouse team has made it to state and the third consecutive year that the girls team has made it to state.

The WIAA 1B/2B State Cross Country Championships will take place on Saturday, Nov. 5 at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco.