PASCO – Would the Granite Falls High girls cross country team be intimidated?
After all, the Tigers were making their first trip to the Class 2A state meet. Would the sudden success overwhelm a young team that includes only one senior among its bare-minimum five members? Did the send-off pep assembly held in the Tigers’ honor earlier this week distract them?
No way. Freshmen Crystal Marino (19th, 20:19) and Lindsey Sannon (26th, 20:32) both set personal records to help make Granite Falls’ state debut a success. The Tigers placed 11th among 16 teams on the 3.1-mile route at Sun Willows Golf Course, and they’re already looking forward to next year.
“We’ll be back,” Marino said. “Don’t you worry about that. We’ll get first next year.”
But was it really that easy?
“We almost passed out and died,” Sannon said.
Aah, the joy of distance running.
Granite Falls coach Jim Lien, who will retire after this year, said he was proud of the Tigers. “It was kind of a break-the-ice performance. They just did a tremendous job.”
Granite Falls has a strong freshman class that will only improve the team next year, Lien said. He expects the Tigers to return to state the next several years.
“The girls should definitely be here. They’ll make an impact.”
In other 2A girls action, King’s looked right at home against its new competition. The Knights won three consecutive 1A state titles before leaping to 2A this year and nearly grabbed another title. Led by senior Laura Coghlan (25th, 20:31), King’s (112 points) came in second behind winner East Valley (59). Senior Melody Miles was 29th (20:35) for the Knights, who crammed five runners in the top 41.
King’s stuck together when the race was over, sharing smiles and hugs. “We’re just like a family,” Coghlan said. “We’re best friends.”
Grandview’s Brittney Sanchez won the race in 18:33.
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