Mustang Stampede
The Redmond boys and girls cross country teams galloped into the school's record books yesterday at the KingCo-Greater St. Helens bi-district championships in Kirkland.
The Stangs claimed the District II/IV Championship titles and for the first time in eight years, both teams will be boarding a bus together for the long road trip to Pasco next week. It's a deserving trip for the boys' squad, as they stunned a talented pack of district rivals and ran off with their first team district title since 1991 and first state berth since 1998 when they placed 5th.
Led by junior Anthony Ellis (4th in 16:32.27), Redmond clinched the first place prize 79-84 over KingCo League champs, Roosevelt. Sophomore Aiden Irish was 9th in 16:40.17; senior captain, Matt Stearns came in at 16:57.52, good for 18th overall. Rounding out the rest of the squad, was freshman Mack Young (34th, 17:34.75); junior Nathan Villeneuve (42nd, 17:44.59); senior David Dreeben (47th, 17:53.56) and junior Kyle Reed (58th, 18:19.37).
Woodinville senior Doug Holt ran away with individual honors adding another XC title to his name. Holt clocked in at 16:04.58 on the hilly course at Finn Hill Junior High School. Holt won the KingCo League title last week and is a favorite to contend for the 4A state title on November 4th.
Battle Ground's Erik Cronrath was the first GSHL runner to cross the line, placing 2nd in 16:19.77. Roosevelt senior Yonas Berhe was 3rd in 16:26.01; Ellis, 4th, and Evan Bross of Prairie (16:33.11) rounded out the top 5.
The top 4 teams advance to the state meet. Joining the Mustangs and Roughriders of Roosevelt are two schools that have been there before. Bothell makes their 3rd straight trip to Pasco, led by senior Matt Brown (14th, 16:52.74). Heritage of Vancouver returns for the 2nd year in a row led by a senior Josh Burrus' strong 7th place finish (16:38.83).
Other individuals advancing to state are:
6. David McCary, senior, Juanita (16:36.17)
8. Matt Moncur, junior, Skyview, (16:39.19)
10. John Limpf, junior, Evergreen, (16:43.68)
12. Alex Barkley, junior, Ballard, (16:49.37)
15. Cody Hauver, freshman, (16:53.21)
16. Etienne Aridj, senior, Woodinville (16:55.10)
17. Kris Brown, senior, Garfield (16:57.00)
19. Warner Smidt, senior, Lake Washington (17:01.02)
In the girls' race, the Lady Stangs put together a very strong team effort and joined their male counterparts in bringing home some hardware.
After finishing a close second place team finish last week at the KingCo Championship race to league rival Eastlake, Redmond came into yesterday's district race expecting another back and forth battle with the Wolves… and they didn't disappoint the fans crowded around the long straightaway at the finish.
Led by a surprising first place finish by freshman Devin McMahon (18:51.17), Redmond edged out Eastlake 36-46. The girls' race featured lead changes throughout the first part of the windy and hilly course. Mountain View (Vancouver) senior Lauren Breihof led at the gun through the 1st lap around the campus and looked to spread out her lead until Bothell senior Paige Patillo took over the front running duties. But right around the 400-meter mark, coming through the first turn on the track toward the finish, McMahon surged ahead with teammate KingCo Champ Sarah Lord in hot pursuit. McMahon cruised on the turn and down the straightaway for the win, pulling Lord to 2nd in 18:55.68. Patillo finished in 3rd in 18:58.25. Roosevelt's Sadie Mohler was 4th in 19:11.82 followed by Breihof in 5th (19:32.19).
Redmond sophomore Jillian Jaccard claimed 10th (20:00.20) with her junior teammates Chelsea Smith and Jenny Light running 15th and 16th in 20:30.77 and 20:33.89 respectively. Freshman teammate Kristen Klimisch was 24th (21:15.17) and junior Carmen Tubbesing placed 39th (21:45.53) for the Mustangs.
Eastlake Freshman duo, Chelsea Orr and Erin Blodnick of Eastlake, paced the Wolves in 6th and 7th place respectively, running 19:35.04 and 19:45.09. Fellow freshmen, Sara Fester and Janie Dwyer finished 11th and 13th in 20:14.04 and 20:23.16 for the Wolves. Teammate's Ashley Horton, sophomore, was 20th in 20:49.23 and freshman Allie Dorsey was 26th in 21:27.72.
Breihof will lead her Mountain View team along with the Kayla Schick-led (19th, 20:45.16) Woodinville squad as the other two teams to join Redmond and Eastlake in Pasco.
Other individuals making the trip to state are:
8. Bridget Berg, junior, Ballard (19:50.73)
12. Rachel Williams, junior, Inglemoor (20:18:32)
14. Kelsey Klettke, junior, Prairie (20:25.03)
17. Caitlin Litsey, senior, Evergreen (20:34.98)
18. Liz Russell, senior, Inglemoor (20:36.28)