The Rainier High School girls cross country team racked up one final victory before the postseason begins next week. Their victory at the 1B/2B/1A meet at Castle Rock High School marked their fifth team win of the season.
Rainier and Toledo were the only two 2B schools to compete in the meet, while Castle Rock, Columbia (White Salmon), Seton Catholic, and La Center participated at the 1A level. Three Rivers Christian was the lone 1B school.
Senior Madison Ingram earned second place with a time of 19 minutes and 59 seconds, about 13 seconds behind Castle Rock’s Casie Kleine. Freshman Komaire Robles continued her impressive stretch with a fifth-place finish of 20:19 and crossed the finish line in under 21 minutes for the third straight meet.
Junior Jazzlyn Shumate (21:24) took eighth place, and sophomore Rayanna Wisner earned her second best time of the season with an 11th-place mark of 22:15. Freshman Alexis Myers (13th, 22:33) and sophomore Kinsley Barlow (15th, 22:58) also placed in the top 15.
Ingram, the reigning Central 2B League champion improved on her time from her most recent meet at the Rainier Invitational last week, but the Castle Rock track was not of a preferable terrain for her.
“I think the hardest part that was working against me was the course being so flat. I feel like I run better with hills,” Ingram said. “The part that helped me the most was having girls out there pass me and being able to pass them back and work together to get a faster time. It’s definitely hard when there’s not people out there with you to keep going fast. It’s easy to slack off.”
Head coach Rob Henry said the girls weren’t as satisfied with their times because they’re coming off of a pair of difficult meets, but he expects that their energy and mentality will be where it needs to be for the league championships and beyond.
“I don’t think the kids were real happy with the way they ran, but now we’re gonna have a little lull and then we’ll just start building back up and get the energy level back,” Henry said.
With the Central 2B League Championships next up for the Mountaineers at Onalaska Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, Ingram said she can’t wait to see how her team steps up through the most challenging point of the season.
“I definitely think that this is the hardest part of the season because you’re already past being nervous for the beginning, and everyone’s comfortable,” she said. “My favorite part of the season is to see who wants to step up. But I think that our girls are going to push through.”
The senior girls will be a key factor in helping the Mountaineers, who have plenty of youth, reach their postseason goals. Wisner said Ingram has taken it upon herself to be a leader for the underclassmen.
“Everybody brings each other up. She’s a great leader and role model. She never puts herself in front of anybody,” she said.
Ingram added that she loves helping the youngsters, particularly Robles whom she has taken under her wing. The two practice and work out together regularly.
“I love helping them out. I always tell them, ‘Don’t be scared to ask me. I’m totally willing to help you out with anything,’ and I love seeing them grow in their running,” Ingram said. “I love having the chance to use all the years I’ve had of running to help other people and see how it can affect them.”
Rainier’s boys finished fourth as a team, led by junior Zach Hamilton who set a personal record with a blazing time of 17:07, taking sixth. Senior James Meldrum shattered his season record with a time of 19:08, 27 seconds better than his previous mark. Junior Ean Viik (19:18) and sophomore Caleb Stover (19:18) each set personal records to finish in the top 30.
“James had a really excellent race. That was really good to see. Zach had a little injury a couple weeks ago and he’s finally back to where he’s healed enough,” Henry said. “Mentally, he’s got to be able to lock in and try to keep Treyton in his eyes.”
Toledo’s Treyton Marty, the reigning league champion, finished first at 16:06 while freshman Conner Hill took fifth at 17:05, setting a new personal record by 18 seconds. Freshman Lilly Cooper was the top Riverhawk on the girls side at 25:08.
The Onalaska Middle School course will be similar to the Castle Rock course with lots of flat straightaways and gravel, but the Mountaineers are familiar with it and are looking forward to the task. The road to Pasco for state is favorable for Rainier as the 1B/2B District 4 Championships will be held at Rainier Elementary School on Saturday, Nov. 2.
“This is where you start to see either people slow down or not try as hard, or you see people step it up and really work hard,” Ingram said.
