Cedarcrest wins first-ever conference title

Published 11:45 pm Saturday, October 25, 2008

LAKEWOOD — A few years ago winning a conference title was the last thing on Bruce McDowell’s mind.

“Most of the time we’ve had trouble fielding a team, let alone trying to worry about winning a conference championship,” said McDowell, head coach of the Cedarcrest High School girls cross country team.

But times definitely have changed. Thanks to an influx of talent, the Cedarcrest program is having a stellar season that reached a new peak Saturday. Led by race winner Cara Strodel, the Red Wolves won the Cascade Conference team title — the first in program history, McDowell said.

Four Cedarcrest runners finished among the top seven on the 5-kilometer (3.1-mile) course at Lakewood High. Strodel and teammate Missy Dowd were first and second, respectively. Strodel, a sophomore who was the runner-up last year, had a time of 19 minutes, 34 seconds (15 seconds faster than Dowd).

“As a team we’re all competitive with each other, like a good competitive,” said Strodel, whose team is ranked No. 2 in the Washington State Cross Country Coaches Association Class 2A poll. “We push each other and we’re all around the same time.”

McDowell praised the consistency of Strodel, who increased her lead by pushing hard on a hill in the forest that competitors passed twice.

“She’s the type that kind of rises to the challenge when she needs to,” McDowell said. “When you don’t maybe think she’s going to be in top form, she goes out there and still runs strong.”

Cedarcrest scored 36 points, followed by Lakewood (57) and South Whidbey (64).

A collective change of heart helped fuel Cedarcrest’s success. Four of the team’s top nine runners played soccer last year but switched to cross country this fall, McDowell said.

The newcomers have certainly fit in well. The only team ranked ahead of Cedarcrest in 2A is Sehome.

Next weekend runners will compete in the district championships, where they will try to qualify for the state meet (Nov. 8 in Pasco).

Lakewood boys win 20th league title

With four runners placing in the top eight, the Lakewood boys cross country team continued its dynasty-like control of the Cascade Conference. The Cougars won their fifth straight league title and the 20th in program history, Lakewood co-head cross country coach Jeff Sowards said.

Junior Taylor Guske won the individual title for Lakewood, and his teammate Chad Skiles was fourth. Guske, who placed second a year ago, had a 24-second margin of victory. Yet he wasn’t satisfied with his time (16:55).

Guske said it was “cool to win,” but he had hoped to have a time closer to his season-best on a 5K course, 16:18. He said he knew about two-thirds into the race that it wasn’t going to happen.

“About the second mile it hit me and I was feeling really weak,” said Guske, who was nine seconds faster last year, “and the wind was really bad today.”

Guske led throughout the race and occasionally looked back to see if anyone was gaining on him. No one was close, which he said also factored into his time — he didn’t have anyone to push him.

The No. 2 finisher was Conner Ballew of Archbishop Murphy. Brandon Dean of King’s was third.

At Lakewood High School

5,000 meters (3.1 miles)

Girls

Team scores: 1. Cedarcrest 36 points, 2. Lakewood 57, 3. South Whidbey 64, 4. King’s 86, 5. Archbishop Murphy 94, 6. Granite Falls 185.

Scoring runners for top three teams: Cedarcrest—1. Cara Strodel 19:34, 2. Missy Dowd 19:49, 6. Mariah Pyle 20:26, 7. Tia Smith 20:27, 20. A. Chittenden; Lakewood—5. Lacey Nation 20:24, 8. Chelsea Stokes 20:28, 10. Tasha Bartol 20:47, 15. Rachel Cundy 21:06, 19. Chelsea Sowards 21:12; South Whidbey—4. Emily Martin 20:10, 9. Chantal White 20:43, 16. Jessica Cary 21:08, 17. Caroline Habel 21:10, 18. Courtney Bosman 21:11.

Other top-15 individuals: 3. Adele Eslinger (King’s), 19:58, 11. Kelsy Rasmussen (A. Murphy) 20:48, 12. Lauresa Smith (King’s) 20:49, 13. Shelby Lyman (A. Murphy) 20:55, 14. Michaela Bartz (A. Murphy) 20:57.

Boys

Team scores: 1. Lakewood 33 points, 2. Cedarcrest 60, 3. Archbishop Murphy 74, 4. King’s 108, 5. South Whidbey 110, 6. Sultan 153, 7. Granite Falls 175.

Scoring runners for top three teams: Lakewood—1. Taylor Guske 16:55, 4. Chad Skiles 17:26, 7. Trent Tresch 17:39, 8. Nick Devier 17:40, 13. Byron Gouette 17:57; Cedarcrest—6. Tony Minaglia 17:39, 9. Sam Grady 17:43, 10. Hayden Teachout 17:52, 17. Josh Ward 18:05, 18. Chad Linnerooth 18:09; A. Murphy—2. Conner Ballew 17:19, 12. Brandon Todd 17:56, 14. Zach Conard 17:58, 15. Anthony DeGrazia 17:59, 31. Sam Holeman 18:47.

Other top-15 individuals: 3. Brandon Dean (King’s) 17:25, 5. Blake Koszarek (S. Whidbey) 17:30, 11. Hans Frymire (Sultan) 17:56.

Note: Complete results are available at www.athletic.net.

Writer Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/heraldnet/doubleteam.