KENNEWICK -- Two months ago, Southridge's Andrew Gonzales figured to be having a stellar senior season.
Gonzales won the 3,000 meters and finished second in the mile running unattached at the Runner's Soul Open indoor meet at the University of Idaho on Feb. 7.
In the 3,000, he edged Lewis-Clark State junior Eric Tuwei by less than a second, and in the mile he lost in a three-way duel with a pair of runners from Concordia of Portland. His performance helped convince WSU to sign Gonzales earlier this month.
But soon after, Gonzales began feeling the effects of an IT-band injury in his leg -- an inflammation of a muscle on the outside of the thigh that runs along the outside of the knee.
Gonzales shut down training for a couple of weeks and missed almost the first month of the track season.
He finally returned two weeks ago, and for his third race of the season, he went up against a strong field at Saturday's 48th Pasco Invite in the 3,200 that included 4A state cross country runner-up Shane Moskowitz of Central Kitsap, Eisenhower's Bryan Simison (10th at 4A state in cross country) and North Central's Jeff Howard and Ben Johnston (third and fourth, respectively, at 3A state cross country).
Gonzales hung behind the lead pack for much of the race before showing off a powerful kick over the final lap that moved him into third place behind Moskowitz and Johnston, finishing in 9 minutes, 19.97 seconds to move into 10th on the all-time area list.
With Star Track just six weeks away, Gonzales thinks he has enough time to rebuild his conditioning base and challenge for a state title.
"I've still got a lot of work to do, but I'm satisfied with this race," he said. "With another month and a half to go until state, hopefully I'll get there."
NOTES: The CBBN dual-meet season resumes today, with the top boys meet featuring unbeaten Pasco and once-beaten Hanford and Wenatchee at a four-team meet at Fran Rish Stadium. The Panthers girls are also unbeaten, while Richland and Pasco have one loss each. ... The 50th running of the Prosser Rotary Invitational is Saturday at Art Fiker Stadium, with 16 teams scheduled to take part. The host Mustangs swept the team titles a year ago. ... The 24th annual Kiwanis Invitational is Saturday at Kennison Field in Hermiston, with 17 teams entered. Southridge swept the team titles last year.
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State cross country championships, race by race
State cross country championships, race by race
PASCO -- Here is a race-by-race look at the 2011 Washington state cross country championships at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco:
4A boys
Last year, the team title slipped from the grasp of Spokane schools for the first time in 23 years. On Saturday, the trophy went back to the west side of the Cascades for the first time since 1986 as Gig Harbor topped defending champ Eisenhower 55-78.
TC Prep boys favored to defend title
TC Prep boys favored to defend title
The question posed was this: How many cross country teams could lose their No. 2 returning runner to injury and still hope to defend a state title.
Tri-Cities Prep coach Scott Larson hopes the answer is at least one.
The Jaguars are the consensus favorites to repeat as the 2B/1B boys champions at the state meet Saturday at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco. That mantle comes not despite the loss of senior Nick Tudor early in the season (he finished 10th at state last year) but because of how well the TC Prep runners have moved up and moved on.
2011 girls cross country state previews
2011 girls cross country state previews
PASCO -- Here is a preview of each classification for the 2011 state cross country meet:
Class 4A
Time: 1 p.m.
Kamiakin's Armstrong wins state cross country (w/ galleries)
Kamiakin's Armstrong wins state cross country (w/ galleries)
PASCO -- Broken records and shattered dreams. Powerhouse programs and dethroned champions. Winning at the tape and victory by the mile.
Saturday's state cross country meet at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco had it all, plus more than a dash of local flavor to make the 2011 edition a big hit.
Anthony Armstrong, Kamiakin's standout senior who had won just about everything but a state cross country crown, finally got that elusive win in the day's most thrilling race.
Tri-Cities Prep, Kamiakin shine at state cross country meet (w/ galleries)
Tri-Cities Prep, Kamiakin shine at state cross country meet (w/ galleries)
PASCO -- There was a time when Tri-City teams were regulars on the state cross country podiums, with their runners standing tall on the top step.
Saturday's state cross country meet at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco brought those glory days back to life with a team championship, two more trophies, an individual crown and plenty of top finishes to go around.
Tri-Cities Prep repeated as the 2B/1B boys champion, easily holding off Northwest Christian of Lacey 56-89.
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