Last Saturday, Nov. 8, Cedarcrest High School’s boys squad competed at the 2A State Championships, held at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco.

“At the start of the season, we were not expecting to qualify a squad for state,” commented coach Bruce McDowell.

Last spring, Cedarcrest had graduated six of its starting nine runners. It was supposed to be a rebuilding year. Only, “They rebuilt themselves into another state squad,” McDowell said.

Ian Fay ran 16:43 for 43rd place; His time is a Cedacrest boys’ sixth fastest time on the state course.  Cameron Hammontree ran 17:01 for 54th place, eighth in the record books for the state course. Vincent Dams was 93rd for 17:30; Gunnar Schultz was 103rd for 17:46; Chase Bolin was 107th for 17:51; Isaac Harper was 109th for 17:54, and Simon Fraser was 114th for 17:59. Other members of the state squad who did not race were John Shaw and Ben Benson. The boys finished a respectable 12th place, and all nine are returning next year.

Before the race, the Red Wolves boys were recognized for being the 2A boys cross country Academic State Champions. Included in this recognition were the nine listed above as well as Grant Van Valkenburg. These 10 boys had a combined spring GPA of 3.851.

The Cedarcrest girls did not advance past the Northwest District Championship meet, held November 1 at South Whidbey High School. For the girls race, it was the top 3 teams and the top 15 individuals qualifying for state.  Madi Shinn was Cedarcrest’s first finisher in 27th place. The pack included Alicia Krivanel at 33rd with 21:33.86, Ruby Farias at 38 with 21:59.54, Kiana Ward at 39th with 22:02.31, followed by Kate Vergillo, MaryCate Babcock and Paige Lucas.