Tigers finish season at District 6/7 regional

WENATCHEE – Northeast A League teams dominated the District 6/7 regional meet at Walla Walla State Park on Friday, Oct. 26, limiting the Caribou Trail League to one of six available team state berths and four additional boys and two girls individual spots.

Lakeside (9 Mile Falls) won both the boys and girls regional titles. Riverside and Medical Lake claimed the other two girls team state spots, while Medical Lake and CTL champion Cashmere took the other two boys team spots.

Tonasket did not have any individual state qualifiers, but coach Bob Thornton, whose team was filled with first-year runners, was pleased with the Tigers’ progress.

“With so many new runners this year, it was good to see the them become runners and go from just running races to racing races,” he said. “That competitiveness will set us up good for this spring and for next fall.”

Tonasket’s boys were led by Oscar Avilez (43rd, 18:44.73). Also running for the Tigers were Adam Halvorsen (56th, 19:32.39), Adrian McCarthy (58th, 19:37.34), Lawrence Wambugu (62nd, 19:55.80), Smith Condon (63rd, 20:03.01), Abe Podkranic (83rd, 22:11.96) and Jordan Hughes (85th, 23:04.10). Dallin Good and Ryan Dejong also competed as JV runners.

Running for the Tonasket girls were Jessica Puente (49th, 23:20.57), Jenna Valentine (60th, 4:43.28), Giesa Seidler (60th, 24:43.28), Claire Thornton (66th, 25:27.72), Kallie Mirick (68th, 26:05.36), Vanessa Pershing (72nd, 27:33.06) and Corrina Karrer (75th, 28:30.54).

Thornton said he was also looking forward to a number of his middle schoolers joining the high school ranks next season.

“Everyone won ribbons this year and the girls team went undefeated,” he said. “The boys team beat all but two larger schools. Both teams can be a force to reckon with in the coming years.”

Among other north-end Caribou Trail League athletes, Omak’s Sam Goble (10th, 17:05.15) and Jason Hill (15th, 17:19.31) cracked the top 15 and Chelan’s Joseph Coffey (14th, 17:19.08) will also head to state. Only two Cashmere girls will represent the CTL in the girls’ race.