33rd Hole in the Wall cross country meet set for Saturday

An expected field of 98 schools and approximately 3,200 runners will gather on Saturday for the 33rd Hole in the Wall Invitational cross country race on the 5,000-meter course at Lakewood High School.

The event, said meet director Jeff Sowards, “is the largest in the state of Washington by the number of participants and by the number of schools.”

It is not only big, it is also highly competitive. As an example, Sowards said, the girls varsity race will include the state’s top-ranked teams in Classes 4A (Camas), 3A (Edmonds-Woodway), 2A (Liberty, Issaquah) and 1A (Northwest School), as well as Jesuit High School of Portland, which has the nation’s 18th-ranked girls team.

“It’s very fair to say that will be the most competitive high school girls race of any run in the state (this season),” Sowards said.

Among the top girls scheduled to run are Taylor Roe of Lake Stevens, the defending 4A state champion; Jordan Oakes of Holy Names Academy, the defending 3A state champ; Erin Mullins of Cascade (Leavenworth), the defending Hole in the Wall winner; and Malia Pivec of Lynnwood, who placed third in the Hole in the Wall race last season.

In the boys varsity race, not all of the state’s top-ranked teams will be on hand. But there will still be plenty of good teams and some outstanding individuals, with Tibebu Proctor of the Northwest School among the latter. A second-place finisher at the Hole in Wall in 2015, he is the defending state 1A champion and has already run a 5,000-meter cross country race with a time about a half-minute under the Lakewood course record.

“If (Proctor) has a good race here, he could definitely break the course record,” Sowards said.

The Hole in the Wall race began in 1984 and has been run almost every year since. In recent years, Sowards said, “the number of schools has kind of held steady. But competition-wise, and if the girls this year are any indication, the quality has continued to grow.”

And it remains a popular event, not only for the teams and athletes, but also for the community, with plenty of civic leaders and other citizens pitching in to help.

“We’re really proud of the event,” Sowards said. “It’s a great event for our Lakewood community.”

Saturday’s first race is scheduled for 9 a.m., with a final all-comers race at around 4 p.m. There are races for middle school, freshman/sophomore, junior varsity and varsity, with different divisions based on team-average times over 5,000 meters. The top varsity girls will run at 3 p.m. and the top varsity boys at 3:30 p.m.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Lake Stevens’ Kamryn Mason attempts to flip Glacier Peak’s Kyla Brown onto her back during 110-pound match at the 4A girls wrestling district tournament on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Vikings girls wrestling conquers 4A District 1 Tournament

Lake Stevens dominated with champions in six weight classes and 18 total state-qualifiers

Kamiak’s Kai Burgess has her arm raised in the air after beating Arlington’s Jaymari O’Neal in the 125-pound match at the 4A girls wrestling district tournament on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Rebuilding Kamiak girls wrestling steps forward at District Tournament

Ki Burgess and Eden Cole each won their weight class in Friday’s WIAA District 1 Girls’ 4A Tournament

Meadowdale’s Kyairra Roussin takes the ball to the hoop during the game against Archbishop Murphy on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep girls basketball roundup for Friday, Feb. 7

Kyairra Roussin’s deep buzzer-beater lifts Meadowdale over Stanwood.

Prep boys basketball roundup for Friday, Feb. 7

Lake Stevens passes Mariner in league standings to take final district slot.

Seattle head coach Mike Holmgren watches his team against Washington Sunday, November 9, 2003. (George Bridges / KRT / Tribune News Services)
No Holmgren in Hall is a travesty

The Former Seahawks coach carries a resume superior to many already in the HOF.

A Snohomish School District truck clears the parking lot at Glacier Peak High School on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (Aaron Coe / The Herald)
Inclement weather cancellations strain high school sports calendar

With state tournaments on the horizon, ADs from Wesco, Northwest and Kingco must be flexible

Gonzaga overcomes stagnant start to beat LMU

Bulldogs get ‘best of best’ play down the stretch in 73-53 win.

Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) celebrates during a stop of the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Nov. 24, 2024 (Photo courtesy of Rod Mar / Seattle Seahawks)
Leonard Williams restructures Seahawks deal

More moves may be coming as Seattle deals with salary cap.

Former Archbishop Murphy High School stars, Bears cornerback Kyler Gordon (6) and Seahawks right tackle Abraham Lucas (72), prepare for play at Soldier Field in Chicago on Dec. 26, 2024. Though Lucas is likely to return as a starter, Seattle's interior line needs offseason upgrades. (Photo courtesy of Edwin Hooper / Seattle Seahawks)
The Seahawks offensive line needs work

A mix free agency and draft could lead to upgraded interior.

UW men stumble in second half, fall to Nebraska

The three-pointers that fell so frequently — and from a… Continue reading

Edmonds-Woodway’s William Alseth dribbles the ball down the court during the game against Shorewood on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025 in Shoreline, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds-Woodway boys basketball enters playoffs on high note

The Warriors never let up in 63-43 win vs. Shorewood on Tuesday to secure Wesco South 3A/2A title

Prep basketball roundup for Tuesday, Feb. 4

Parker powers Seagulls to district berth.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.