Tuesday, Sep. 09, 2008

Cross country capsules

By the Herald staff

Here are the league previews for the Mid-Columbia cross country season:

CBBN

Boys

2007 champions: Eisenhower (4A duals and districts); Kamiakin (3A duals and districts).

Returning state qualifiers: 4A--Eisenhower, team (Bryan Simison, jr.; Ryan Chapman, sr.); Emmanuel Contreras, sr., Davis; Nathan Schweiger, jr., Richland. 3A--Southridge, team (Andrew Gonzales, sr.; Colby Cravens, jr.; Kyle Sturdefant, jr.; Casey Singleton, sr.; Quinton Olivas, jr.; Addison Quam, soph.; Aaron Konzek, jr.); Evan Fiske, jr., Kamiakin; Jacob Rogers, sr., Sunnyside.

Outlook: After qualifying for state for the first time, Southridge returns all seven varsity runners, led by Gonzalez, who finished fourth in the state 3A and has the fifth-fastest returning time for all classes.

The Suns, who finished ninth in state, are ranked ninth in the 4A preseason coaches poll, two spots behind Eisenhower, which returns just two members of its eighth-place 4A team. Coach Jamie Monroe thinks the team has a chance to win a state trophy thanks to the dept provided by Cravens (48th at state), Sturdefant (82nd), Singleton (94th) and the others.

Kamiakin lost a solid core of seniors but returns Fiske to lead a talented junior class, which has been challenged by promising freshmen Anthony Armstrong and Austin Richards.

Richland has several strong additions to join Schweiger (50th at state) and returning senior captains Caleb Parker and Benn Fussner, the latter finishing one spot away from advancing to state last year.

Pasco has five varsity returners, including senior Peter Gilbert, who finished second in the 800 meters in state track last spring.

Girls

2007 champions: Richland (4A duals and districts); West Valley (3A duals); Hanford (3A districts).

Returning state qualifiers: 4A--Davis, team (Sandra Martinez, sr.; Shawna Schooley, sr.; Kathryn Kibbe, soph.; Hannah Kaluzny, jr.; Maria Espinoza, sr.; Rachel Davis, jr.); Richland, team (Katie Mahoney, soph.; Kiley Johnson, sr.; Annie McDonald, sr.); Janette Rodriguez, jr., Pasco; Hannah Kiser, jr., Wenatchee; Marisa Vander Malle, jr., Pasco. 3A--West Valley, team (Lisa Olander, sr.; Aubrey Packard, sr.; Audrey Urlacher, jr.; Ashley Packard, soph.; Chantel Jaeger, soph.; Amy Larson, sr.); Hanford, team (Erin Hegarty, soph.; Haley Tank, sr.; Leilani Anderson, sr.; Megan Dart, sr.; Katie Thomas, soph.; Lauren Curran, jr.); Rachael Gerboth, jr., Kamiakin; Emily Butler, soph., Southridge.

Outlook: A slew of talented underclassmen from last year plus the combination of the CBL 3A and 4A into one league have created a ridiculously competitive CBBN girls field.

Among the top returners are Martinez, third in state 4A; Olander, third in 3A; and Hegarty, 10th in 3A.

But coaches say Richland starts at the head of the pack for the team race. Ranked fourth in the 4A preseason poll, the Bombers return Mahoney, Johnson and McDonald, three key members from a squad that finished eighth in the state. Sophomore Maggie Jones, a first-time runner in the sport, shows a lot of promise on a lineup that easily goes 10 deep. Also, sophomore Emily Hazen transferred from Wenatchee and was one of the Panthers' top runners.

Hanford, ranked seventh in the 3A poll, also is loaded, starting with Hegarty, who finished 10th at state and was named the Herald's MVP. Tank, Anderson and Dart are eyeing a move up from their team's ninth-place showing at state.

Davis, with Martinez and Schooley (22nd at state), returns six of its seven state runners and is ranked eighth in the 4A.

Kamiakin will rely on its youth, with Gerboth backed by sophomore Kaylee Brooks and promising freshmen Stephanie Rexus and Sydney Blaser.

Butler had a tremendous regional last year, finishing fourth for Southridge.

Pasco's Rodriguez and Vander Malle are looking to take another big step after an outstanding first year ever in the sport.

Walla Walla junior Denali Molitor is healthy again and has regained the form that got her to state as a freshman. Kennewick has high hopes for freshman Alexis Klippert.

CWAC

Boys

2007 champions: Selah (duals); Ellensburg (districts).

Returning state qualifiers: Selah, team (James Currell, sr.; Jesus Alvarez, jr.; Nate Lynch, sr.; Joshua Cruz, sr.; Kyle Smith, jr.; Brentton Leeper, jr.); Ellensburg, team (Kevin Aubol, sr.; Jake Solem, sr.; Matt Glenn, jr.; Liston Idler, soph.; Josh Aubol, sr.); Jose Mendez, sr., Grandview; Ben Villanueva, sr., Toppenish; Eduardo Torres, jr., Wapato; Mason Yates, jr., East Valley.

Outlook: Among the top returners are Mendez, a three-year state competitor who finished 40th last year, and Aubol. Ellensburg has four returners and ranks eighth in the 2A poll, one spot behind Selah. Othello could make a move into the top half of the league with its entire varsity reutrning.

Girls

2007 champions: Ephrata (duals and districts).

Returning state qualifiers: Ephrata, team (Danielle Friend, soph.; Kendall Hintz, soph.; Ann Slininger, soph.; Claire Hanberg, soph.; Kellie Bracht, soph.); Ellensburg, team (Ellie Layman, jr.; Natalie Idler, sr.; Marisa Wickerath, soph.; Harper Miller-Rubin, sr.; Taneum Bambrick, jr.; Alyssa Smith, jr.); Mick Martinez, jr., Selah.

Outlook: Ellensburg and Ephrata are expected to battle for district honors. Ephrata's Friend finished 14th at state last year and is the top returner.

SCAC

Boys

2007 district champion: Royal.

Returning state qualifiers: Royal, team (Ethan Tonnemaker, soph.; Roy Angel, jr.); Kiona-Benton, team (Jose Marcial, sr.; Andy Campbell, sr.; Tim Feth, sr.; James Roberts, jr.); Zillah, team (Johnny Barnes, jr.; Blake Bergener, sr.; Cody Dunbar, sr.; Daniel Estrada, sr.; Brennan Shearer, jr.); Asa Israel, sr., Goldendale; Michael Greene, sr., Cle Elum; Jacob Coulson, sr., Connell; Joe Salcedo, jr., Granger; Walter Boehme, sr., Cle Elum.

Girls

2007 district champion: Zillah.

Returning state qualifiers: Zillah, team (Korie Duce, sr.; Emma Tuning, soph.; Erica Moreno, sr.; Rachel Argo, sr.); Highland, team (Ariana Cole, jr.; Anna Ventura, sr.; Ashley Rice, sr.); Kiona-Benton, team (Charlene Lumpkins, jr.; Whitney Leavitt, sr.; Crystal Howell, jr.); Melissa Gibbons, sr., Connell; Cara Wieldraayer, sr., Royal; Addie Christensen, jr., Goldendale; Kaitlyn Yamane, sr., Warden; Brittany Stavig, soph., Warden.

Class B/Oregon

Boys

2007 district champions: St. John-Endicott (Blue Mountain); Hermiston (IMC).

Returning state qualifiers: 2B/1B--Tri-Cities Prep, team (Ryan Mercado, sr.; Daniel Foust, jr.; Ryan Clements, sr.; Samuel Mota-Martinez, jr.; Sergio Lopez, sr.; Trevor Merk, sr.); Miles Lytle, sr., Dayton; Wyatt Withers, jr., Waitsburg-Prescott; Michael Montgomery, jr., Waitsburg-Prescott; Jacob Kleck, sr., Dayton. Oregon--Hermiston, team (Jordan Ringe, sr.; Jonathan Larson, sr.; Samuel Wick, jr.; Antonio Ortiz, jr.); Obi Harriman, soph., Umatilla (3A/2A/1A).

Girls

2007 district champions: Asotin (Blue Mountain); Summit (IMC).

Returning state qualifiers: 2B/1B--Elizabeth Ahlers, jr., Tri-Cities Prep; Maya Garcia, jr., Waitsburg-Prescott; Grace Lyman, sr., Dayton. Oregon--Hermiston, team (Samantha McCloud, jr.; Kelsey Trotter, soph.; Kimberly Macias, jr.; Jude Schimmel, soph.); Nancy Cardenas, sr., Umatilla (3A/2A/1A).