Cedarcrest sends eight runners to state competition

On Oct. 29, the Cedarcrest Cross Country squad competed at the Northwest District 1 Championships held at South Whidbey High School.

Rainy weather Saturday made the already challenging course muddy and slippery, which was unfortunate, Cedarcrest Coach Bruce McDowell said, since the district meet is the athletes’ chance to qualify for state. Only the top three teams and top 21 individuals would advance.

“Going into the meet, we knew that the girls race was going to be our most difficult of our two races,” McDowell said. There were six worthy teams and only three spots. We were going to have to run an almost perfect race and even then it wouldn’t guarantee the result we wanted.”

Although they did well, the team ended in fourth place, six points from qualifying for state. Individually, though, three girls qualified, Alicia Krivanek, Elsie Dombek and Lily Krueger.

The boys team, competing against five teams, finished second overall, with three individuals placing well enough to advance to state, Ian Fay, Grant Van Valkenburg and Ben Benson.

District results:

Boys team

Ian F., 4th, 16:47;

Grant V., 5th, 16:51;

Ben B., 13th, 17:07;

Chase B., 28th, 17:45;

Emmett K., 29th, 17:51;

Ryan L., 54th, 18:31;

Daniel M., 56th, 18:42;

Justin Y., Open, 19:01;

Austin W., Open, 19:05.

Girls team

Alicia K., 9th, 20:13;

Elsie D., 12th, 20:28;

Lily K., 15th, 20:32;

Madi S., 23rd, 20:55,

Mary Cate B., 25th, 20:59;

Kelly H., 33rd, 21:25;

Kate V., 37th, 21:40;

Cecelia K., Open, 22:21;

Alison S., Open, 23:01;

Greta K., Open, 23:25;

Megan R., Open, 23:41.

At the state tournament, Nov. 5, at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco,

Alicia Krivanek, racing in her second state meet, placed 23rd in a field of 158 runners. Lily Krueger, also in her second state appearance, placed 36th and Elsie Dombek, a freshman, took 37th. Dombek was fourth fastest freshman in the race, McDowell reported.

Cedarcrest’s second-ranked boys team was under some pressure at the state meet.

“We knew coming into the meet that we had a shot to match that second-place ranking, but we had to deliver on this day,” said McDowell.

And they did. Grant Van Valkenburg, placing fifth, and Ian Fay, placing ninth, both made the individual podium placings. This is the second time that the boys team has put two on the podium in the same year, McDowell noted.

Ben Benson placed 27th and Chase Bolin was 76th, followed by Emmett Klaiber, 85th, Ryan LaTurner, 96th, and Daniel Murphy, 107th. As a team, the boys earned the 2nd place trophy.

State results:

Boys team

Grant Van Valkenburg, 5th, 16:06.90;

Ian Fay, 9th, 16:16.10;

Ben Benson 27th, 16:37.70;

Chase Bolin 76th, 17:30.30;

Emmett Klaiber 85th, 17:35.80;

Ryan LaTurner 96th, 17:43.60; snf

Daniel Murphy 107th, 17:51.20

Girls team

Alicia Krivanek, 23rd, 19:51.40;

Lily Krueger, 36th, 20:13.80;