The "Run-Down": Finn Hill 5000

 

The inaugural meet in Alderbrook Park featured some of the Northwest's finest cross country running weather, with temperatures in the low 60s and light rain throughout the race. Although many race times were slower due to the soggy, muddy course, and some un-sportsmanship like antics by another team, there was lots to be excited about, too. Here is a Run-Down of what happened...

 

Once more, the Girls went up against the best team in the district, Hockinson, along with runners from Seton Catholic, Kingsway, Mark Morris, Woodland, Columbia River and Heritage. As it seems to be a theme this season, the course was slow, so the coaching staff was thinking fast times were not much of an option. However, some of the runners defied the odds and ran season and/or lifetime PRs.

 

Second-time racer, sophomore Kallie Light, ran in the future varsity girls race with sophomore Sydney Niemi and seniors Laycee Hyde and Chloe Kilgore. Kalli pushed through the race, neck and neck with a runner from Columbia River, putting up an impressive kick in the last 200 meters or so, to finish second. Wow! Chloe was the second finisher for Washougal and seventh-place overall, with a time of 27:18:6. She was followed by Laycee in 11th place with a time of 29:42:2, and Sydney in 12th place with a time of 29:50:6.

 

Freshman Mac Wright ran an impressive race for future varsity boys, finishing in 20:04.9, for fourth-place overall. He was followed by freshman teammate Nick Stevens who finished in eighth-place. Both boys posted better times than last week, finishing 23 and 20 seconds faster, respectively. Sophomore Darian Tierney ran 36 seconds faster than last week, with a time of 21:08.7, while senior Chism King blew away his time, finishing more than two-and-a-half minutes faster, with a time of 22:07. Freshman Aaron Dunn showed that he was up for the challenge of racing, posting a time of 25:36.3, 14 MINUTES faster than last week!!!! Today he ran all the way, with strong form every step of the way!

 

The girls varsity race saw junior Kendall Utter put up her best performance of the year, finishing in fifth-place overall with a time of 22:53:6. She was soon joined by sophomore teammate Tara Duey who finished in 13th place with a time of 24:56. The cooler temperatures were great for senior Brandi Sherman ho showed it by finishing in 26:21.9, more than a minute faster than last week. Freshman Brooke Croeni finished in 22nd place overall, with a time of 27:19:2, 31 seconds faster than last week. She was followed by sophomore Kelsey Lagerquist and the Johnson twins, Kaitlyn and Kari, who put up an impressive sprint in the final 200 meters of the race, finishing 25th through 27th, with times 11 seconds faster than last week for the twins.

 

The Panther results went from good to better when the varsity boys hit the course. Despite some shoving, elbowing and downright nasty behavior from one of the Heritage runners, sophomore Sean Eustis completed the race with both grace and style, finishing in fourth-place with a time of 17:25.7. Sophomore teammate Isaac Stinchfield finished in 14th with a time of 19:13.5. He was followed by senior Brendan Casey in 16th place, who showed he could do anything senior Noah Collins could do, eclipsing his teammate by almost 20 seconds. Senior Michael Huck moved into the #5 slot for the panthers for the first time this year with a 26th place finish.

 

Overall, the boys finished in third place, without senior star Dylan Croeni who was off taking his SATs. In addition, the Panthers had top five finishers in all four races, a good showing indeed.

 

In regards to the "faster courses", that is what the Panthers will be looking at with the Concordia meet on Saturday. We'll also host Hockinson for a third go-round at our home course at Cottonwood Beach. Go Panthers!

 

 

Coach Terry L. Howard

 

Here are the line scores:

 

Varsity Boys

 

Mile 1

Mile 2

5000 M

 

Sean

4th

5:35

11:22

17:25.7

 

Isaac

14th

5:56

12:14

19:13.5

 

Brendan

16th

6:07

12:44

19:44.8

 

Noah

21st

6:13

13:00 

20:04.1

 

Michael

26th

6:23

13:19

20:26.7

 

Josh

28th

6:22

13:19

20:27.9

 

Oscar

36th

6:32

13:58

22:10.1

 

of 46

 

Future Varsity Boys

 

 

 

Mac

4th

6:23

13:04

20:04.9

 

Nick

8th

6:31

13:23

20:50.0

 

Darian

10th

6:46

13:49

21:08.7

 

Chism

15th

6:48

14:19

22:07.0

 

Aaron

27th

7:41

16:32

25:36.3

 

 

of 29

 

 

 

 

Varsity Girls

 

 

 

 

 

Kendall

5th

7:07

 

22:53.6

 

Tara

13th

7:33

 

24:56.0

 

Brandi

16th

8:24

 

26:21.9

 

Brooke

22nd

8:24

 

27:19.2

 

Kaitlyn

25st

8:35

 

28:14.0

 

Kelsey

26th

8:21

 

28:14.3

 

Kari

27th

8:35

 

28:15.8

 

 

of 29

 

 

 

 

Future Varsity Girls

 

 

 

 

Kallie

2nd

8:41

 

26:15.9

 

Chloe

7th

8:41

 

27:18.6

 

Laycee

11th

8:41

 

29:42.2

 

Sydney

12th

8:41

 

29:50.6

 

 

of 17