Mount Si Cross Country: Boys growing, girls ahead of the pack | Photos

Mount Si's fleet-footed sophomore Hannah Waskom was in the lead—usually where you can find her in girls races this fall—but she wasn't done yet." At home against Redmond and Woodinville, she was in front of Lindsey Sydnor by a few seconds. Then she hit the gas. "At the end, I felt like I had a lot more in me," Waskom said. "I tried to go as hard as I could on the finish."

By Seth Truscott • October 7, 2014 8:32 pm

Mount Si’s fleet-footed sophomore Hannah Waskom was in the lead—usually where you can find her in girls races this fall—but she wasn’t done yet.”

At home against Redmond and Woodinville, she was in front of Lindsey Sydnor by a few seconds. Then she hit the gas.

“At the end, I felt like I had a lot more in me,” Waskom said. “I tried to go as hard as I could on the finish.”

Waskom finished first, 23 seconds ahead of Sydnor, at home Wednesday, Sept. 24, at Mountain Meadows Farm. The pair have been consistent one-two finishers for the Wildcats.

“It was good for two and a half” miles, Sydnor said. “She kicked and she was gone!… Hannah’s kick is insane.”

Still, Sydnor’s 20:01 time was good for a new personal record.

“If this was a PR race, it would be awesome,” Sydnor said before she knew.

The two girls led the pack from about 400 meters.

A girl from one of the other teams “dropped off and it was just us,” Sydnor said. “Which was cool, because it’s a really cool course, really pretty views.”

“I never really saw anyone in front of me,” said Waskom. “It’s a mental challenge, having to push yourself. Thankfully, I had Lindsey pushing me.”

Waskom will get some true tests later in the season, especially at league, from 4A programs like Issaquah and Skyline.

“Skyline is going to be good, kind of like football,” said Waskom.

Mountain Meadows Farm has been Mount Si’s course for the past two years. The scenic course wound up and down over damp fields of grass, past turning maples and silver ponds. The terrain offers its own challenges.

“It’s a little different back there in the grass,” Sydnor said, “Kind of slippery, and then you’re excited, because you’re going, ‘What’s going on?'”

“It definitely has that cross-country feel,” Waskom said. “When you think of cross-country, this is what comes to mind. It’s not necessarily the fastest, but it’s very hilly. The ground is uneven. That’s what cross country is about.”

Team results

In other results, at Mountain Meadows Farm, Melissa Hruska was fifth with 21:08; Lexi Winter was ninth with 22:04; Chloe Cosgrove was 10th with 22:08; Ellie Bruce was 15th with 22:57;

Ariana Moreno was 16th with a personal record of 23:01; Julene McDonald was 17th with 23:02; Hailey Hammer was 22nd with 23:43; Faith Callies was 24th with a personal record of 23:53; Quinn Van Buren was 30th with 24:37; Miranda Jarocki was 38th with 25:56; Kari Orth was 45th with 28:03; Stena Peterson was 61st with 37:32. The girls won with 27 points.

For the boys, sophomore Jackson Stokes was ninth with 17:43; William Betz was 14th with 18:01; Tanner Sundwall was 16th with a personal record of 18:03; Hunter Franklin took 20th with 18:47; Jonny Gendro was 22nd with 18:54; Alexander Helfrich was 23rd with 18:55; Jack Hamerly was 29th with 19:16; and Ryan Moore was 31st with 19:51. The boys were third.

Waskom placed seventh last Saturday, Sept. 27, at the 5K Nike Pre-Nationals, held in Portland, Ore. She had a season record of 19:10.99. Sydnor was 41st with a time of 20:25. Freshman Julene McDonald was 13th in the JC race with 21:58.84.