State champion Sierra Speiker at last Saturday’s tournament held in Yakima. Photo by Bob Thornton

YAKIMA – Freshman Sierra Speiker, Oroville’s top cross country runner, broke course records all season long and now has earned first place in the State B Cross Country meet held in Pasco last Saturday.

Speiker led her next closest opponent, Morgan Wilson from Colfax by nearly 13 seconds to win her race. Speiker controlled the race, staying about ten meters ahead of Wilson, then accelerated up Heartbreak Hill and pulled away to win by a comfortable margin.

“Catie Arrigoni was close on her Sierra’s heals, placing fifth,” said Coach Doug Kee.

The two finishes in the top five was enough for Speiker and her fellow Lady Hornets to win the fourth place trophy for the State Championships, according to Kee.

“Zack Speiker finished 45th in a pack of 129 of the fastest runners in the state in the boys race,” Kee said.