Rhiannon Alexander
GRANITE FALLS | SOPHOMORE
2009 recap: Placed fifth in the Class 2A state meet in 19 minutes, 15 seconds.
2010 outlook: Alexander is a multi-sport athlete who spends most of her time playing soccer and basketball, but her competitive mentality translates perfectly to cross country. “Her biggest attribute is that she hates to lose,” Granite Falls coach Tony Helgeson said. Helgeson expects Alexander to have another strong season. “She’s got the gifts and the natural ability,” said Helgeson. “It’s just a matter of how far she wants to take it.”
Chelsea Dowdell
EVERETT | SENIOR
2009 recap: Placed 11th in the Class 3A state meet in 19 minutes.
2010 outlook: According to Everett coach Troy Schwenke, Dowdell’s summer travels prevented Dowdell from training as much as in previous years. But Dowdell is still capable of running times similar to those she ran in 2009. “She might be kind of a late-season runner where she really starts hitting her stride” in the final few weeks, Schwenke said. Dowdell’s personal record in a 5-kilomter race is 18 minutes, 46 seconds, which Dowdell ran last season at the Nike Pre-Nationals in Portland, Ore.
Teresa Wadey
ARLINGTON | JUNIOR
2009 recap: Finished 19th in the Class 4A state meet in 19 minutes, 6 seconds.
2010 outlook: Wadey is “poised to look good” after running more miles this summer than ever before, Arlington coach Mike Shierk said. Wadey handled the expanded workload well, said Shierk. She set the Eagles’ 5-kilometer school record last year with a time of 18:56 in the North County meet.
Amy-Eloise Neale
GLACIER PEAK | SOPHOMORE
2009 recap: Placed first in the Class 3A state meet in 18 minutes, 8 seconds and was named Gatorade Washington Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year.
2010 outlook: For Neale, defending her 3A state title is just one step in her ambitious list of goals this fall. Coming off an outstanding summer when she won three races at the National Junior Olympic Track &Field Championships in California, Neale leads an experienced, nationally ranked Glacier Peak squad that hopes to qualify for the Nike Cross Nationals Finals, Grizzlies coach Dan Parker said. Individually, Neale wants to improve on her 14th-place national finish in ‘09.
Adrianna Royal
OAK HARBOR | SENIOR
2009 recap: Finished 59th in the Class 4A state meet in 19 minutes, 47 seconds.
2010 outlook: Coming off a great summer that included strong performances at the National Junior Olympic Track &Field Championships, Royal will be one of the best runners in 3A, said Oak Harbor coach Eric Peterson, whose team dropped from 4A to 3A because of statewide school reclassification. “Watching her run in practice, she’s ready to go this season,” Peterson said.
Mike Cane, Herald Writer
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