| HeraldNet - Snohomish County's online news source |
 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2009 6:37 am |
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High Schools 
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Freshman Rhiannon Alexander first Granite Falls runner to reach podium since 2005 PASCO — Competing in the state meet for the first time, freshman Rhiannon Alexander didn't run quite as fast as she had hoped.She got over it quickly though. A top-five individual finish will do that. Not sure what to expect in her state debut, Alexander of Granite Falls High School was the fifth-fastest runner in the Class 2A girls race on Saturday during the state cross country championships at Sun Willows Golf Course. Alexander completed the 3.1-mile (5,000-meter) course in 19 minutes, 15 seconds, followed closely by Cedacrest junior Cara Strodel (sixth place, 19:17) and Sultan senior Rici Morrill (seventh, 19:22). Alexander's time was about 3 seconds slower than the personal-best time she recorded a week ago at the district meet in Langley. The freshman said on Saturday she hoped to go even faster at state, but she was still all smiles afterward. “I didn't think I'd place this well. I thought I'd be worse the way (the race) started because I kept tripping,” said Alexander, who won conference and district titles leading up to state. But Alexander overcame those early stumbles and gusty winds to become the first Granite Falls girl to place top-16 at state (and earn a spot on the awards podium) since 2005, when then-freshman Anna Jensen placed 15th. “She was nervous before the race but I think she ran really well,” Granite Falls girls coach Jennifer Fletcher said of Alexander. “She's a freshman, so she's got time (to get even better).” Granite Falls head coach Tony Helgeson said he had never seen Alexander so nervous before a race. He was proud of her all-out effort. “She came close to puking at the end, which is good,” Helgeson said. The 2A team winner for the fourth straight year was Sehome, which edged runnerup Kingston by two points, 57-59. Cedarcrest, led by Strodel's sixth-place run, took third with 105 points. Ranked No. 1 in the state coaches' poll, Cedarcrest had five runners in the top 40 individual finishers. But No. 2 Sehome's five-fastest girls were in the top 30. “They were just deeper than us. We ran as good a race as we were going to run (on Saturday),” said Cedarcrest coach Bruce McDowell, whose Red Wolves lost to Sehome by six points last year. “Obviously the girls were hoping for better (than second place this year),” McDowell said, “but I'm hoping that in the long run, when they kind of step back and look at it, they're still at least proud of their accomplishment even if they're a little disappointed.” Kingston teammates Ruby Roberts (18:06) and Marina Roberts (18:36) finished first and second in the race. Lakewood finished ninth in the team standings, led by Chelsea Stokes (20th in 20:01). Lakewood boys 4th in 2A Propelled by a slew of personal-best times, Lakewood won the fourth-place team trophy in the 2A boys race. The fourth-ranked Cougars improved significantly on their seventh-place showing last year. Senior Taylor Guske (fifth place, 16:14) was Lakewood's top individual finisher and one of six Cougars who clocked career-best times, according to Lakewood co-head coach Jeff Sowards. By placing in the top seven, Guske qualified for the Nov. 23 Washington vs. Oregon BorderClash in Beaverton, Ore. But the main thing on his mind after the race was “My entire team,” said Guske. “My senior year, this was probably the best team of my life. I love all of these guys equally.” After Guske, Lakewood's top finishers were senior Chad Skiles (24th) and senior Nick Howe (26th). Sehome's Scott Carlyle won the individual title in 15:47. No. 2 Sehome placed second behind champion (and top-ranked) Burlington-Edison in the team standings. Junior Conner Ballew placed 14th for Archbishop Murphy, becoming the first boy in program history to earn a spot on the top-16 individual podium. “I'm going to go up there with a Coke and a smile,” said Ballew, who grabbed a celebratory can of soda after he completed the race in 16:29, about 17 seconds faster than he ran at districts. Everett boys eighth in 3A After winning Wesco North and District 1 team titles, the Everett High boys placed eighth out of 16 teams in the 3A state meet. Senior Cody MacDougall (30th place, 16:34) and junior Angelo Comeaux (32nd, 16:36) led the tenth-ranked Seagulls. North Central (47 points) won the team title, sparked by race winner Ben Johnston. The two top-20 local individuals were Meadowdale senior Jon Hanson (16th, 16:00) and Shorecrest senior Joe McConaughy (19th, 16:16). Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at www.heraldnet.com/doubleteam. |
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