Amy Johnson running at the Omak-Chelan Tonasket Dual on Wednesday, Sept. 30. Spear finished the 2.1 mile two lap course with a time of 16:33.Submitted by Bob Thornton

CHELAN – The Tonasket boys and girls cross country teams are learning to run together in order to push each other for better times, as they proved during the Omak-Chelan Tonasket dual.

For the boys, sophomore Damon Halvorsen finished first for Tonasket and second overall with a time of 13:19. The next four Tonasket runners finished within 31 seconds of each other. Sophomore Jake Hickman finished at 14:15, junior Peter Williams finished at 14:30, senior Corey McCrarey finished at 14:34 and senior Spencer Podkranic finished at 14:46. The last two boys for Tonasket, senior Barry Pentz and junior Kellen Sauer, finished at 16:06 and 17:03, respectively.

“The boys except Damon ran together the first lap and then the number two through five runners finished within 31 seconds of each other,” Bob Thornton, head coach, said. “The guys are learning how to run as a team in a pack so when one steps up and sets the pace the others go with them. That way they can take turns pushing each other to place well.”

Junior Jessica Spear finished first for the Tonasket girls’ team and second overall at 16:33 while sophomore Amy Johnson finished with a time of 17:31, junior Michelle Carlson finished at 18:08 and sophomore Emmy Hickman finished at 18:42.

“I’m not sure of the others’ placings as we only had four run but Amy Johnson ran really well,” Thornton said. “The girls are getting stronger and are learning they can run with those that have been placing ahead of them. They know they have more in them. The last half of the season could be interesting.”