Today marks the end of the dual-meet season for CBBN teams and the beginning of the march to their respective 3A and 4A state meets.
All the schools are taking Saturday off from invites to rest up for next Thursday's 3A (Hanford) and 4A (Wenatchee) district meets.
The league titles will be decided today: at Kennewick's Lawrence Scott Park (East-mont, Hanford, Kamiakin, Southridge, Wenatchee, West Valley and the host Lions) and at Franklin Park in Yakima (Davis, Moses Lake, Pasco, Richland, Sunnyside, Walla Walla and Eisenhower).
Unlike other sports, though, league titles in cross country are strictly for pride.
"When it comes down to it, going to state and regionals is where it's at," said Kamiakin coach Matt Rexus. "If you only have one choice -- winning league or winning regionals ... most kids I know would gladly trade league champions for a chance go to state. Obviously, you'd like both."
There are three unbeaten teams coming into the final meets: The Eisenhower boys (10-0) and the Richland (9-0) and Davis (10-0) girls.
The Bombers and Pirates battle head-to-head in Yakima, with third-place Ike (8-2) also scoring against Richland.
Richland coach Lauri Sax expects a close race between her team and Davis, adding that if last weekend's Richland Invite had been scored head-to-head, they would have tied.
"With their frontrunners (Shawna Schooley and Sandra Martinez, 1-2 at the Invite) and us being strong in depth, they have an advantage in dual meets, and we have an advantage in bigger meets," Sax said.
On the boys side, Southridge (9-1) and Kamiakin (8-1) will battle for second place at Lawrence Scott, with Ike running unchallenged by the other top teams in Yakima.
"We know we have our hands more than full," Rexus said of the Suns, who returned all of their runners from last year's 3A state qualifier. "At least we hope to give them a good run for their money."
Southridge coach Jamie Monroe isn't ready to play the role of frontrunner just yet, considering the Suns have never beaten the Braves in a league meet. Monroe said that despite both teams having quality runners at the top, it's likely to come down to the Nos. 3-4-5 runners.
"You never know against Kamiakin," he said.
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Major cross country meets coming up
Major cross country meets coming up
With back-to-back premier events in the cross country world the next two weekends, different teams are using the big meets for different reasons.
For elite teams -- like the Kamiakin boys (ranked second in the state 3A) and girls (ranked third) -- it is a chance to pit themselves against the Northwest's best at Sunfair this Saturday at Franklin Park in Yakima and the Richland Invite the following weekend.
Likewise for the top individuals, with some of the best boys in the nation lining up for Kamiakin's Anthony Armstrong to challenge.
League wrestling titles at stake this week
League wrestling titles at stake this week
A big week of wrestling is on tap for Mid-Columbia teams in the hunt for league titles.
In the CBBN 4A, Chiawana (4-0) travels to Moses Lake (3-0) on Thursday for a dual that should decide the regular-season crown. That same day will see Pasco travel to Sunnyside in a battle of 5-0 teams in the CBBN 3A.
This is the second consecutive season the Bulldogs and Grizzlies will meet with unblemished records. Last year, the Grizzlies won 34-18 and went on to secure the league title.
Superintendents decide fate of CBBN on Tuesday
Superintendents decide fate of CBBN on Tuesday
A meeting of school superintendents next week in Yakima will determine the fate of the Columbia Basin Big Nine conference.
Ten superintendents, representing the 15 schools in the CBBN, have been invited to attend a meeting scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Yakima School District main office.
Mike Colbrese, the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association executive director, has also been invited.
Top swimmers prep for Mukilteo Invite
Top swimmers prep for Mukilteo Invite
The King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way will provide an early taste of state-caliber swimming during Saturday's Mukilteo Invite.
The Mid-Columbia will have plenty of representatives in the Olympic-sized pool. Richland, Moses Lake, Walla Walla, Hanford, Kennewick, Kamiakin, Southridge, Sunnyside and Prosser are bringing swimmers to the Mukilteo Invite, held at the same facility as the WIAA state championships in November.
"We wanted to give our girls some good outside competition to prove their times and swim indoors," said Richland/Hanford coach Kathy Piper, who
estimated 25 teams would participate.
Kamiakin cross country sweeps all-area honors (w/ photos)
Kamiakin cross country sweeps all-area honors (w/ photos)
KENNEWICK — It's Kamiakin's world; everyone else is just running in it.
In terms of the Mid-Columbia cross country scene, that's an apt description of this last fall season.
The Braves boys and girls not only dominated league meets -- at times placing their full squad of seven in the top 10 -- they performed well at the big races and brought home a bounty of state hardware.
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