The Cedarcrest boys took third as a team and won the school’s first state trophy, in cross country championships, held Saturday, Nov. 9, at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco.

A number of Red Wolf runners stepped up, performing solid races. For the girls, Olivia Waterman ran a great race, moving up throughout the race, to finish in ninth place, with a spot on the podium.

Amelia Anderson ran a good race to finish 34th place, which is her highest place at the state meet.

Waterman joins Kelly Ramirez, Caitlin Ramirez, Cara Strodel and Missy Dowd on the list of Cedarcrest girl podium placers.

“That is pretty elite list,” commented coach Bruce McDowell.

Coaches figured the boys squad had a shot at a top-four place at state. But it was hard to know what the other teams had, going in.

“Team races are so difficult to predict at the state level,” said McDowell. “There are so many more runners to run against with comparable ability plus qualifying teams are coming into the meet from vastly different courses. Even watching the race is difficult because a few teams, us included, wear non-traditional uniforms. Our squad went ‘old school,’ wearing the old 1993 Wolfpack tanks.”

The boys’ seven runners were Logan Orndorf, Quinn Radbourne, Jonathan Gunderson, Ian Fay, Colton Green, Gage Catherman and Cameron Hammontree, with alternates John Shaw and Evan Atwater.

Orndorf moved up throughout the race to finish fifth. Radbourne was 33rd, Gunderson finished 37th, Green finished 73rd, and Fay, 81st, to round out the top five.

It was a great team effort by all of the boys, said McDowell. Orndorf made the state podium for a third year. His performance makes him perhaps the best boys runner in school history. He also qualified for the Nike Borderclash race, an all-star race with runners from Oregon and Washington, held Saturday, Nov. 16.

“It is hard to pick athletes of the meet but it is hard to ignore Olivia and Logan making the podium,” said McDowell. He also recognized Jonanthan Gunderson and Gage Catherman.