Saturday, Oct. 28 was the Northwest District Cross Country Championship meet for Cedarcrest’s cross country teams, held at South Whidbey High School. Both teams went in with the goal of qualifying for this weekend’s state meet in Pasco, and both teams accomplished that goal. The girls placed third overall and the boys fourth, claiming the last team spot for state.

“This was our third meet on this South Whidbey course,” said Cedarcrest head coach Bruce McDowell. “As much as any course, this course requires a bit of strategy due to the good-sized uphill at 1.25 miles that wipes out most 50-year-old coaches trying to get to the top to cheer on the runners.”

In the girls’ race, Elsie Dombek had a big surge in the last mile and a big kick in the last 200 meters to finish in third place, McDowell said, making her the fifth Cedarcrest girl to break 20 minutes on the Whidbey course. Kelly Hall finished 12th, Alicia Krivanek 17th, Mary Cate Babcock 27th and Kate Vergillo 32nd, to make Cecardcrest’s top five runners. With 91 points and a third place team finish, they secured their trip to state.

The boys were expected to face a battle for fourth place overall in their race. Grant Van Valkenburg finished third overall, becoming the third Cedarcrest boy to break 16:30 on the course. Ben Benson missed a week of practice as he was at the FFA national convention, but finished seventh; he’s the sixth CHS boy to break 17 minutes on the course. Also in the top five were Emmett Klaiber 22nd, Brady Shaw 33rd and Bryce Hefner 42nd. With 107 points, the team made fourth place to qualify for state, too.

Athletes of the Meet are Ben Benson, Brady Shaw, Mary Cate Babcock and Cecelia Kiesow.

Full district meet results are available at: https://www.athletic.net/CrossCountry/Results/Meet.aspx?Meet=132920#.