PASCO -- Here is a preview of each classification for the 2011 state cross country meet:
Class 4A
Time: 1 p.m.
2010 champions: Eisenhower; Tansey Lystad, sr., Inglemoor (17:44.4)
Individuals to watch: Chandler Olson, jr., Woodinville; Megan LeGresley, fr., Redmond; Jordan McPhee, so., Mt. Rainier; Alexis Fuller, fr., Union; Rachel Atwood, sr., Auburn Riverside; Kaitlin Kaluzny, sr., Davis; Mayra Chavez, sr., Eisenhower; Lindsey Bradley, fr., Richland; Elise Tello, so., Eisenhower
Local qualifiers: Bradley; Rachel Nelson, jr., Walla Walla; Lauren Perry, so., Richland; Hannah Hampson, so., Walla Walla
Noteworthy: With Lystad gone, this will be the seventh consecutive first-time champion, dating to Brie Felnagle of Bellarmine Prep (2003-04). ... The top returning placers from last season are Olson (3rd), Alison Keenan of Lewis & Clark (9th) and Atwood (10th). ... McPhee, who played soccer last fall, is 10-for-10 in meets, including the Richland Invite, in which she topped Chavez and Bradley by nearly 30 seconds. Olson was 11-for-11 in wins. ... Redmond, Bellarmine Prep and Eisenhower are ranked in the top three. Ike interrupted a run of eight consecutive west-side team titles.
Class 3A
Time: 12:30 p.m.
2010 champions: Glacier Peak; Amy-Eloise Neale, so., Glacier Peak (17:31.8, course record)
Individuals to watch: Neale; Katie Bianchini, jr., Glacier Peak; Alexa Efraimson, fr., Camas; Katie Knight, jr., North Central; Kendra Weitz, jr., Shadle Park; Stephanie Rexus, sr., Kamiakin
Local qualifiers: Kamiakin (Rexus; Michelle Fletcher, jr.; Sydney Blaser, sr.; Brittany Brooks, so.; Erica Colvin, sr.; Natalie Cory, fr.; Samantha Meadows, jr.; Miquette Orren, fr.; Jori Perrins, so.); Rachel Dahl, sr., Southridge; Emily Kump, fr., Southridge
Noteworthy: Neale is the favorite to become the eighth member of the three-timers club. Last year, she finished 6.2 seconds ahead of Knight, the second year in a row the duo finished 1-2. ... Other top-10 returners are Bianchini (3rd), Weitz (5th), Fletcher (7th), Rexus (8th) and Addi Johnson of Peninsula (9th). ... Neale is the sixth two-time 3A champ in the last 21 years. ... Glacier Peak won by 66 points over Shadle Park last year after finishing runner-up to the Highlanders by eight points in 2009. The Grizzlies are the top-ranked team with five runners back from last year, four of whom placed in the top 22. ... The rest of the podium is up for grabs, with Camas, Peninsula, Kamiakin and Prairie the top contenders.
Class 2A
Time: 11 a.m.
2010 champions: Sehome; Sarah Reiter, jr., Lindbergh (18:02.8)
Individuals to watch: Reiter; Brittany Gappa, jr., Squalicum; Marina Roberts, sr., Kingston; Reagan Colyer, jr., North Kitsap; Antoinette Tansley, fr., Interlake; Sanne Holland, jr., Cheney; Brittany Gappa, jr., Squalicum.
Local qualifiers: Kolby Childers, jr., Prosser
Noteworthy: This is a rematch race, with the top six runners from last year all back this season. ... The Roberts sisters of Kingston High have held the runner-up spot the last three years: Ruby in 2008 sandwiched between her titles in '07 and '09, and Marina the last two seasons, first to her sister and then to Reiter. ... Holland has finished third the last two seasons. ... Colyer (4th), Gappa (5th) and Anna Patti of Lindbergh (6th) are the other returners. ... Last week's Westside Classic was a good preview for state, with Roberts winning by 26 seconds over a field that included Colyer, Tansley and Reiter. ... Five-time defending champ Sehome enters with the No. 2 ranking behind Interlake, which defeated No. 3 Kingston by three points last week.
Class 1A
Time: 10:30 a.m.
2010 champions: Riverside; Maddie Meyers, jr., Northwest (17:33.9)
Individuals to watch: Meyers; Sally Larson, jr., Cedar Park Christian; Hazel Carr, fr., Northwest; Allison Peterson, sr., Montesano; Lindy Jacobson, fr., Lakeside; Jess Mildes, sr., Riverside
Local qualifiers: Wahluke team (Linda Achelpohl, jr.; Celeste Cruz, so.; Silvia Herrera, jr.; Maria Juarez, jr.; Mariela Nava, so.; Thalia Quintero, jr.; Cristal Reyes, sr.); Carina Moreno, so., Royal; Kyla Turner, jr., Kiona-Benton
Noteworthy: Meyers, bidding to become the state's first four-time state champion, won by nearly 2 minutes last year. She won the Jim Danner at Nike Pre-Nationals by 3 seconds over a freshman from Colorado, proving she can win the close ones -- rare though they are. ... If the race is for 2nd, then look at Mildes (3rd last year), Larson (11th last year, finished within a minute of Meyers last week) and Carr. ... Interestingly, 12 of the top 13 runners from last year are back. However, most of them did not run well last weekend. ... Riverside disrupted King's bid for a fifth consecutive title last season, topping the runner-up Knights by 20 points. Now, Lakeside is the top-ranked team, with Meyers and Northwest having hopes of a big podium finish thanks to an infusion of young talent.
Class 2B/1B
Time: 10 a.m.
2010 champions: NW Christian-Lacey; Sierra Speiker, fr., Oroville (18:44.8)
Individuals to watch: Speiker; Elizabeth Weber, sr., NW Christian-Lacey; Hailey Bredeson, jr., NW Christian-Lacey; Morgan Willson, sr., Colfax; Harley Strope, fr., Reardan; Anna Henry, jr., NW Christian-Colbert
Local qualifiers: Tri-Cities Prep team (Annie Bayless, so.; Isabella Klein, so.; Janet Krusche, fr.; Yvonne Lumetta, so.; Bianca Lupercio, sr.; Kelcey McBride, sr.; Madelyn Noble, jr.; Victoria Nunez, so.; Makenna Richards, fr.)
Noteworthy: Willson and Speiker are the last two champions. Willson won by 47 seconds two years ago as a sophomore. Speiker then shocked the field as a freshman last year, topping Willson by 13 seconds. Willson is unbeaten this season, including a win over Speiker by 1:27 at the Connell Invite. ... The state's other five-time defending champion, NW Christian of Lacey, is favored to make it six in a row. The Navigators have won every title since the B class separated from the 1A in 2005.
