Teams flock to Yakima for Sunfair

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The 33rd annual Sunfair Invitational this weekend features 96 teams from throughout the Northwest, including several prominent in national and regional rankings.

While the state's top two boys programs -- Ferris, ranked No. 2 in the nation in the Harrier Super 25, and sixth-ranked Mead -- are at the Stanford Invitational in Palo Alto, Calif., the boys field is still loaded for Sunfair.

Flathead, Mont. (No. 4 in the Nike Team National Northwest rankings), North Central (No. 6 in the region), Gig Harbor (No. 9 in the region) and Sehome (top-ranked in 2A boys in the state) highlight the competition. From the Mid-Columbia, Richland, Walla Walla, Hanford, Kamiakin, Kennewick, Sunnyside and Warden will take part.

The girls field includes Gig Harbor, ranked No. 13 in the nation and No. 2 in the Northwest; Oak Bay Secondary, the reigning British Columbia champion from Victoria; and West Valley (Yakima), the 2005 3A state champion.

n While his teammates are competing at Sunfair, Richland senior Tyler Noland will be in Palo Alto for the Stanford Invite. Noland left this morning with his parents and Bombers coach Laurie Sax.

Noland will have a chance to gauge himself against many of the same runners he'll face at the Foot Locker regional meet Dec. 2 in Walnut, Calif.

"One of my goals would be to place," Noland said, "but it's going to be a huge meet and I don't know what to expect."

n While Royal junior Rigoberto Jimenez continues to develop into one of the top runners in the 1A ranks, twin brother Humberto's only running this season has been from the school to his job at El Dorado Stone. Knights coach Ben Orth said they're trying to make arrangements with El Dorado to allow Humberto, third at districts last year before missing state with a broken foot, to participate this season. ... Kamiakin junior Derek Scott returned to action from a leg injury at Saturday's Wenatchee Invitational, finishing 20th. He then finished 16th at Tuesday's league meet at Eastmont (third on the team), helping the Braves defeat the Wildcats and Kennewick. "We were afraid this would ruin his entire season," said Braves coach Matt Rexus. "Basically, all his running has been in the meets. Everything else has been in the cardio room at Kamiakin, working on the bicycle. Having him back really helps us out in our goal of making it to state."