State Championships – 11/7/2026
Course Length – 5000 meters
General Notes – The course at Sun Willows Golf Course is constantly rolling up and down, with some long gradual inclines/declines, a number of short rises and falls, one notable hill at the start, and another right before the 2-mile and the finish. The footing is almost entirely golf course grass, with some short pavement crossings. The weather during the races was in the high 40's to low 50's with sun coming through for the girls race, and a bit more clouds later on in the day. There was very little wind, though some gusts did pop up during the boys race.
The Girls Varsity was 2nd with 72 points. Pope John Paul II won with 57, Chewelah was 3rd with 74, and Freeman was 4th with 112. There were 108 athletes and 10 teams.
The Boys Varsity was 2nd with 83 points. Freeman won with 58, Northwest Christian was 3rd with 108, and Cle Elum-Roslyn was 4th with 110 points. There were 144 athletes and 16 teams.
Nina – One mile: 6:54. Two miles: 14:03. Finish: 21:57, 39th place. Average: 7:05.
Amazing season, Nina! Your first mile was right where you wanted it to be, running with Sisu and Maren. Then you used the long descent to start picking people off and kept working the entire race. I know the time wasn't quite where you wanted it to be, but you raced extremely well. Besides, the state course isn't known for producing fast times anyway. What has been most impressive is watching your growth as a runner over the past few years. As a sophomore, you learned how to execute the negative split. This year, you became a truly savvy racer, focusing on competing and racing the people around you instead of simply chasing a time on the clock. That confidence showed all season long. You broke the 22-minute barrier and never looked back. You've put together an incredible junior season, and I can't wait to see what Senior Year Nina has in store. Great work!
Alice – One mile: 6:19. Two miles: 12:53. Finish: 19:52, 9th place. Average: 6:25.
Yay, Alice! What a way to end your season! You ran such a smart race. Any time you found yourself in no man's land, you took advantage of the downhills to surge forward and catch the next runner ahead. That strategy paid off, as you moved up four places in the last mile! I know the first half of your season didn't go according to plan, but you did a great job staying patient and trusting the PT process. All of that hard work and patience paid off with a 9th-place finish at State and a shiny new PR!! That's an incredible way to finish your junior season. Keep up with the PT, enjoy a well-earned break, and then let's get ready for a speedy track season!
Crispin – One mile: 5:38. Two miles: 11:37. Finish: 18:06, 42nd place. Average: 5:50.
Way to go Crispin! You did a great job staying relaxed out of the start, pacing off of Orlo and River through the first mile. You were connected while running your own race, which set you up really well for the next mile. That was when you really started to put in the work, using all the hills to catch groups. Even though you didn't have a teammate, you closed gaps quickly, maintaining your momentum over all the little rolls in the course. Clearly it worked, because you managed to move up 14 places in the second mile! Then, when it came down to crunch time, you stayed strong, actually going a bit faster and grabbing another couple of spots. Overall you were 1:21 faster than last year, which I think shows how you've not only gotten faster but also learned how to run 5ks even better this year. I think you're going to have another awesome season next year!
Maren – One mile: 6:54. Two miles: 14:10. Finish: 22:16, 43rd place. Average: 7:11.
Yay, Maren! Great job doing all the recovery work in the week leading up to the race so you could make it to the start line feeling much better than last week. I’m so glad you were able to get out there and compete because you are such a tough racer. It was fun watching you and Sisu work together throughout the race, especially when you pulled off that double pass on a couple of runners. Then, on the final hill, you turned on the jets and powered your way to the finish. Running alongside teammates is one of the best parts of cross country, and it's always fun to see teammates pushing each other when the race gets tough. It's such a bummer that your shins gave you so much trouble this season, but I'm glad you finally found a recovery routine that seems to be helping. Fingers crossed for a healthy, pain-free season next year! Rest up, enjoy ski season, and we'll be ready to roll for next year (or track season?).
Karen – One mile: 5:52. Two miles: 12:05. Finish: 18:48, 2nd place. Average: 6:06.
Wow, Karen! Congratulations on an awesome race at State and an incredible freshman season! You did a great job staying patient through the first mile and putting yourself in a strong position. The State course is a challenging one with plenty of ups and downs, and this race ended up being pretty tactical. You did an excellent job matching the moves of the chase pack and staying engaged as the race unfolded. Then, when it was time to make your move, you found another gear and blasted to the finish, outkicking the 3rd-place runner by five seconds. Racing a 5K is a lot different than middle school races, but you handled the transition like a pro. Throughout the season, you continued to learn, improve, and compete with confidence. You have one more race at NXR, and then it'll be time for some well-earned recovery. What a season! Finishing your freshman year with a 2nd-place finish at State and a race like that is something to be really proud of. Enjoy NXR, soak it all in, and celebrate everything you've accomplished. You've earned it!
Ingrid – One mile: 6:36. Two miles: 13:44. Finish: 21:21, 24th place. Average: 6:53.
Oh, Ingrid! What are we going to do without you next year? You have been such a strong leader for our team over the last three years. This year you helped guide us to another state podium with a 2nd place finish, and you always made sure everyone's glitter was race-day ready. My favorite part of this year's race was watching you signal to Lena to catch back up whenever she wasn't on your shoulder. The two of you worked so well together, putting in the work during the middle mile and using the downhills to reel people in, even pulling off the double pass a few times. I know you were trying to track down those girls in blue at the end and simply ran out of course, but collectively you and Lena moved up eight places in the final mile. That’s huge! And then you used your 4x200 speed to blast to the finish. This was your fifth time competing at the State Meet, which is an incredible accomplishment. I know this season came with its challenges, and you weren't always feeling 100%, but what would 8th-grade Ingrid think if she knew she'd someday run this course three minutes faster? I'd say she'd be pretty impressed. I've loved watching you grow into a fierce competitor and savvy racer over the last three years. Enjoy NXR, celebrate an amazing high school XC career, and get ready for some speedy track races!
River – One mile: 5:32. Two miles: 11:17. Finish: 17:37, 23rd place. Average: 5:41.
Nice race River! You went out and absolutely nailed your mile goal, despite the field going out so fast. That shows how well you know your pace. Then, running with Orlo, you absolutely crushed the second mile, moving up 15 places and maintaining speed really well. The two of you did a great job helping each other out, with some nice team passing on the flats and smart tangent running on the curves. You really seemed to use the drop after the fence into the bunker hill to your advantage on both laps, which is not an easy section to run through! In the final mile, you battled hard, leading the charge then going with Orlo into the final sprint. While you might not have your racing buddy next year, I think you've learned a lot about running and you're going to be able to set the pace all by yourself next season!
Liam – One mile: 5:49. Two miles: 12:01. Finish: 18:43, 69th place. Average: 6:02.
Nice job Liam! This course is challenging – people go out really fast, you're constantly climbing, dropping, or turning sharp corners, and the footing changes frequently. It is especially challenging the first time you run in. Still, you managed to come out with a brand new 5k PR! That's awesome! You were nice and calm through the mile, hitting your goal. Then you really locked in, chasing Thorsen in the middle mile to move up 15 places. But you didn't stop there! You kept on going, picking up another 15 places in the final mile. Wow! I think the highlight for me was watching you use the downhills to close the gap, catching up to Thorsen every time he pulled ahead a bit. That's really smart team racing! Now that the two of you know you can run together, the next step is to get you two next to each other all the time. That's how you build confidence together, and learn each other's tendencies. I think next year we'll be talking about a new dynamic duo!
Lena – One mile: 6:36. Two miles: 13:44. Finish: 21:26, 25th place. Average: 6:55.
Nice race, Lena! No one would have guessed that you were sick for most of the week leading up to the race. That says a lot about how tough and competitive you are. You and Ingrid worked together the entire race, signaling to each other whenever one of you started to drift back, just like you planned. The two of you did a great job using the hills and downhills to close gaps, reel people in, and keep moving up through the field. You even pulled off a few double passes along the way! Together, you and Ingrid picked off eight places in the final mile. That's awesome, and it played a big role in helping the team secure a second-place finish. Overall, you had a great season, and I think you're in a really good place heading into track season. I'm excited to see what you can do next year. Great work!
Thorsen – One mile: 5:48. Two miles: 12:00. Finish: 18:38, 63rd place. Average: 6:01.
Wow Thorsen! That was an incredibly gutsy race. Your opening mile was exactly where you wanted to be, which is awesome considering how fast everyone went out! For reference, even though you hit your goal, you were in 96th place at the mile. But that didn't stop you. Your second mile was strong, as you put your head down and pushed through the hills. The first time you climbed the bunker hill you passed 5 people! Of course, you passed 15 people overall in the second mile, all the while pulling Liam along behind you, whether you knew it or not. In the final mile you picked it up even more, and kept crushing all the hills, moving up another 18 places. That doesn't just happen! You have a lot of grit, and while you might be focusing on the overall time, I think it's worth pointing out that this course is challenging. Coming within a couple seconds of your Wenatchee time is excellent! Looking ahead to next year, I'm really excited to see you and Liam figure out how to run together and communicate in the race. I think you two can push each other more and more, and I bet next year you'll be miles ahead of where you are right now!
Sisu – One mile: 6:54. Two miles: 14:10. Finish: 22:33, 53rd place. Average: 7:16.
Great race, Sisu! You got out relaxed in the first mile, running right with Maren and Nina. As Nina surged ahead, you stayed calm and continued working with Maren for the rest of the race. The two of you did a great job pushing each other up the hills and using the downhills to stay connected to the groups ahead. That's exactly the kind of teamwork that can make a tough course feel a little more manageable. It's never fun to get a side cramp during a race, but at least you only had 400 meters to go when it showed up. Even with the cramp, you still powered up the final hill and battled all the way to the finish line. That really shows your toughness and determination. Take some time to recover, enjoy ski season, and then get ready for another big XC season. I can't wait to see where the Sisu PR Train takes you next season!
Soren – One mile: 5:29. Two miles: 11:03. Finish: 16:58, 8th place. Average: 5:28.
Talk about locking in Soren! You have a knack for big finishes at the state meet, and I think you continued that trend this year in a big way! Despite missing the league meet and not having your best race at the district meet, you came in confident. The first mile, running just ahead of River and Orlo, you found your pace in the mass and stayed calm. Even though you were in 37th place at the mile, you knew you had the time to make it up. That's exactly what you did in the second mile! Picking up 20 places doesn't come easily, especially in the front third of the field, but you found a way. It probably helped that your second mile was only 5 seconds slower than your first, which is excellent pacing! Working the downhills and pushing on the long climb certainly helped, as you kept picking people off. Then, in the final mile, you really sped up, and managed to catch another 9 people, including your targets on the day! Your final mile was actually your fastest on the day, which isn't easy to do on this course. I think that shows how well you paced overall, and how competitive you were. Plus you were 17 seconds faster than last year, and got yourself another couple of places on the podium! I think you're in a great place going into the track season and ahead to next year!
Holden – One mile: 5:18. Two miles: 10:42. Finish: 16:32, 4th place. Average: 5:20.
Excellent run Holden! There were so many things you did well. First off, your pacing was exceptional. While the lead pack took off, you stayed calm and internal. It didn't really matter how fast they went out, because you maintained your speed and caught most of them by the 2-mile mark. You made some great moves on the downhills to close gaps and pass, while staying strong on the climbs. In the final mile, even though the field was spreading out and the gaps were becoming larger, you stayed focused. You looked relaxed and calm with 800 to go, and you were clearly determined to keep pushing, getting another couple spots in the final charge. 4th place is awesome! Plus you were 56 seconds faster than last year! Between track and cross country, you've become an incredibly savvy racer, and I think this meet was a testament to that. You backed up all the hard work you put in this season with a really well-executed race, and I'm so glad you got to reap the rewards. Good luck at NXR and in track, and I'm so excited for next season!
Orlo – One mile: 5:32. Two miles: 11:20. Finish: 17:35, 21st place. Average: 5:40.
Congratulations Orlo! Where to even begin? When I think back to everything you've accomplished this season, I really think this race is the perfect metaphor. You started off running purely on vibes, just going out there to have a good time. And, by the way, you nailed your pace. I know you sometimes feel like you won't be able to finish the race early on. If that happened, you definitely didn't show it at all! Then, in the middle part of the race, you started taking some swings, coming into your stride and moving. You and River came together, pushing through the field with some double-passing and smart hill running. Which, naturally, took you up 10 spots. Then you got to the final mile, and the Slim Reaper showed up. You chased River, passed a few people on the hills, before going full Terminator mode in the final 600 meters. As you have all season, you pulled out some of your 800 speed for a big finish! This year you were 51 seconds faster than last year! This year you ran your final 4 races faster than your season best from last year! It was an awesome season, truly. Good luck at NXR, and I can't wait to see what comes next for you!
As is tradition, I wanted to end with a little look ahead to next year.
On the girls side, Pope John Paul may be graduating a few, but I wouldn't bet against their ability to reload around the core of 9th graders. Plus, Chewelah will be returning a strong group and Freeman seems to be on the rise. I would expect another quick year at the state meet, with three or four teams battling it out for the top spot. Those races typically come down to the third through sixth runner, and that's somewhere we as a team can be strong, especially with a summer of consistent training to prepare for the fall season. If we can come back prepared for consistent running, and if we stay healthy, I think the team is in a good place. But, as we learned this year, nothing is a given! A good goal could be to have the top 5 runners under 21:00, or all runners under 22:00, both of which I think are achievable. But that's going to take work!
On the boys side, Freeman is graduating five of their seven state competitors. But, their next four returners all went under 18:30 this season, so don't count them out just yet. Teams like Northwest Christian and Goldendale are returning strong cores of 4+, and Chewelah still has a solid three to build around. Plus, I wouldn't overlook teams like Tonasket, who are only going to grow next year and are that much hungrier now that they've been to state. This was a pretty fast year, with the top four teams all under 17:30 average. If we can run throughout the summer and launch in ready for some hard training, I think we can get right back to where we were (and maybe even be a bit faster overall). A good goal could be to have the top 5 runners under 17:40, or all runners under 18:00. With some good training, I think we can do that!
