Northwest Review 7

Leo Collins

The region offered numerous opportunities for teams to race, although many failed to take advantage of it.   For those, who did avail themselves to the possibilities the results even took on national importance.   No race was of greater significance than the Richland Invitational.  Although held in the Tri-Cities area in the southeast corner of the state, every area of Washington seemed to be represented and the competition was first rate.   It was fitting, because this meet has long been a key event but this year’s edition provided fans with two great elite races. 

          It is worth noting that the course was altered so that runners negotiated the hills differently.  In some ways it was harder as far as the climbs, yet the downhill was changed from gradual to sharp making it difficult to compare in some ways.   Of course the competition in any race is a key and this year’s race offered much.   Last year Jordan McPhee had hoped to test herself against Katie Knight & only realized that would not happen at the mile mark, where she put her head down and ran unchallenged.   Jordan went on to claim the 4A title in Washington, as well as a berth at Foot Locker Nationals.    This year McPhee is yet to regain last season’s form, probably because she is a two-sport star but the season is still relatively young, but it was not a good day not to have your ‘A’ game, for the competition was national class.   North Central’s Katie Knight was on hand this year and the 3A State champion and record-holder had already claimed the prestigious Firman Invitational.   Also on hand was Alexa Efraimson of Camas, who was fresh off her second place finish at venerable Stanford.   That loss, for the record, was not to a Californian but to another Washington runner, which tells you about the quality of the state.   It did not take long for the race to become a three person race in spite of the fact that the supporting cast was quite strong.   To her credit McPhee did not concede a thing and, like she did in the Danner against Anna Maxwell, Jordan challenged the leader early, which can only help down the road, but the second half of the race became a two person duel before Knight asserted herself down the stretch and The result was a six second victory in 17:16.   Alexa Efraimson followed with a time, that was also well under McPhee ’s course record of 17:35, while Jordan raced home alone in 18:02.   Lindsey Bradley of Richland also crossed the line by herself with a fine mark of 18:17.  Kamiakin’s Megan Beauchene, who has already had a fine season, had an off day on the hills but still placed fifth with 18:41.  Camas runners Alissa Pudlitzke (18:41) and Maddie Woodson (18:54) garnered sixth & seventh respectively with Woodson edging Sierra Speiker, who shared the clocking with the latter runner.  Maggie Coleman of Hermiston followed in ninth in nineteen flat and Lauren Perry of Richland came in  three seconds later for tenth.  Makenna Endebrock of Mt. Spokane took eleventh with 19:10 & Camille Parsons followed with 19:15.   Michelle Fletcher of Kamiakin was 13th (19:26), while Rachel Lefstad & Rachel Covey rounded out the top fifteen.

      If there was still any doubt had moved to a new level this year, it answered it with a resounding victory in the Tri-Cities and in-so-doing reversed his decision with Joe Hardy from the earlier Firman Invite.  Wilmot and Seattle prep’s Hardy raced away from all challengers and proceeded to battle until late, when Wilmot went into over-drive during a long stretch drive.  The North Central star powered to victory in a time of 14:44 finishing three seconds ahead of his rival.   As with the young ladies’ race, Hardy ‘s time was also under the winning from time last year (Anthony Armstrong ran 14:52).  Summer Goodwin of Lewis & Clark was impressive with his third place effort of 15:11 and it is almost hard to believe he could run such a fine time, yet be out of the race for first.  John Dressel of Mt. Spokane edged Tanner Anderson of North Central with both runners being credited with 15:17.  Nathan Hale runner Andrew Foerder finished in 15:23, which was good for sixth and gave him a four second margin over Keith Williams of NC.    Alejandro Cisneros of Hermiston was Oregon’s first runner with a time of 15:35 and an 8th place finish & Nicholas Hauger of Shadle park (15:40) placed 9th.  Eduardo Juarez of Hermiston rounded out the top ten with a mark of 15:41, and Daniel Amann of Deer Park ran 15:46.  Keenan Piper of Seattle Prep finished 12th in 15:48 and Jose Macias of Hermiston followed in 15:49.  Both Logan Giese of Central Valley & Kyler Goins of L & C were given clocking of 15:49.