Mclean edges Ojalehto at the finish

By Bob Mortenson

Herald Writer

MOUNT VERNON — When slim and none failed to appear, any team harboring hopes of an upset might as well have been singing in the rain.

The Snohomish Panthers used their pack mentality to seize five of the top 14 places while cruising to the 4A Northwest District girls cross country championship at Skagit Valley College Friday.

"Our key has always gotta be packin’ it," Snohomish coach Dan Parker said of his team, which scored 55 points to second-place Marysville-Pilchuck’s 98.

Kamiak scored 111 to finish third and qualify for the state meet next Saturday in Pasco. The top 15 individual placers also advance to state.

Shorewood’s Celia Maclean fought off a furious challenge by Monroe sophomore Bethany Ojalehto to claim the individual title. Maclean covered the 3.1-mile course in a time of 19:03.0, just one second ahead of Ojalehto.

Ojalehto rode just a step behind Maclean’s right shoulder for most of the race before taking the lead with about 100 yards to go. Maclean answered by turning it up a notch and regaining the lead less than 50 yards from the finish.

"It’s my senior year," Maclean said. "I thought I should just go for it."

The only thing tighter than the sprint to the finish line was the congratulatory hug the pair shared at the end.

"It was a very tough race," Ojalehto said. "She’s really nice and she’s a senior so it’s her year."

Snohomish dominated the field with the performances of Ashley Meyer (seventh), Amanda Mowers (ninth), Katrina Wiseman (12th), Alyssa Modrell (13th) and Aimee Spada (14th).

After watching his team get off to a solid start, Parker raced to each critical checkpoint to urge his team on.

"Kick out and go, kick out and go," Parker shouted as his harriers serpentined past the 1.75-mile mark.

"We like to get out fast, but then we’ve got to," Parker said. "If you don’t, you’ll get embarrassed."

The Panthers were hardly embarrassed, but had harbored hopes for an even more dominant performance.

"We expected to have a tighter pack," Wiseman said.

Edmonds-Woodway’s Kelsey McCallum ran a 19:45 to place third. Amber Nicelson of Lake Stevens and Alicia Farmer of Marysville-Pilchuck rounded out the top five.

Marysville-Pilchuck coach Julie Coburn was very pleased with her team’s performance. Four Tomahawks were among the top 22 finishers.

"We talked all week about being patient that first mile," Coburn said. "A lot of kids go out too fast with the adrenaline."

Team scores (top three to state)—1. Snohomish 55, 2. Marysville-Pilchuck 98, 3. Kamiak 111, 4. Stanwood 131, 5. Jackson 136, 6. Edmonds-Woodway 151, 7. Mountlake Terrace 169, 8. Shorewood 170, 9. Shorecrest 265, 10. Arlington 265, 11. Oak Harbor 303, 12. Monroe 355, 13. Lake Stevens 357, 14. Everett 369, 15. Mariner 393, 16. Cascade 433, 17. Mount Vernon 451.

Individual state qualifiers—1. Maclean (Swd) 19:03, 2. Ojalehto (Mon), 3. McCallum (E-W), 4. Nickelson (LS), 5. Farmer (M-P), 6. Schwerdtfeger (MT), 7. Meyer (Sno), 8. Pickett (Arl), 9. Mowers (Sno), 10. Costello (Kam), 11. Barclay (Sno), 12. Wiseman (Sno), 13. Modrell (Sno), 14. Spada (Sno), 15. Holtmann (Stan).

Class 3A Northwest District meet: Lynnwood senior Sarah Revoyr fired ahead of Squalicum freshman Sara Thon near the 2-mile mark and went on to claim the title with a time of 19:20.

"I didn’t expect it to go out so fast," Revoyr said of the torrid early pace.

Thon closed the gap near the 2.5-mile mark, but Revoyr was ready.

"I thought she’d make a move on the downhill," Revoyr said. "So I tried to pull away on the straightaway."

Sehome topped Squalicum for the team title 42 to 59.

At Skagit Valley College

3.1 miles

Team scores (top two to state)—1. Sehome 42, 2. Squalicum 59, 3. Anacortes 115, 4. Bellingham 118, 5. Meadowdale 125, 6. Lynden 139, 7. Lynnwood 158, 8. Burlington-Edison 199, 10. Ferndale 233.

Individual state qualifiers—1. Revoyr (Lynnwood) 19:20, 2. Thon (Squal), 3. Mullen (Sedro-Woolley), 4. S. Smith (Lynden), 5. Curtis (Sehome), 6. Hanssen (Squal), 7. N. Smith (Sehome), 8. Shea (Sehome), 9. Miller (Ana), 10. Martin (Ana).

Class 2A Northwest District meet: Karen Schwager led a contingent of five Falcons in the top 14 and South Whidbey was a solid second place behind defending state champion Mount Baker.

Mount Baker took the title with just 24 points, punctuated by a one-two-four finish. South Whidbey scored 42 points.

Schwager, a senior, placed fifth in a time of 20:16.0 and had no complaints about the foul weather.

"I liked it because it wasn’t hot," Schwager said. "Perfect running weather."

South Whidbey’s Julie Gabelein placed seventh.

At Skagit Valley College

3.1 miles

Team scores (top two to state)—1. Mount Baker 24, 2. South Whidbey 42, 3. Nooksack Valley 100, 3. Meridian 106, 4. Lakewood 113, 6. Granite Falls 147.

Individual state qualifiers—1. Krishnek (MB) 18:43, 2. Kr. Rohde (MB), 3. Coulter (Blaine), 4. Ka. Rohde (MB), 5. Schwager (SW), 6. Lewis (NV), 7. Gabelein (SW), 8. Pfeiffer-Hoyt (MB), 9. Englert (M), 10. Godsey (SW).

Class A tri-district meet: The King’s Knights garnered seven of the top 16 spots to easily earn the team title.

Tricia Hansen led the Knights victory parade with her third-place finish in 20:46.0. The freshman duo of Melody Miles and Heidi Kieling finished fifth and sixth, respectively.

"The girls all stuck together and ran as team," co-head coach Tressa Berg said.

"All we want to do is work our hardest and win state," Hansen said.

At Skagit Valley College

3.1 miles

Team scores (top two to state)—1. King’s 35, 2. Annie Wright 77, 3. Bellevue Christian 79, 4. Seattle Christian 83, 5. Seattle Academy 115, 6. King’s West 151, 7. Charles Wright 163.

Individual state qualifiers—1. Lind (AW) 19:54, 2. Ranstrom (SC), 3. Hansen (K), 4. Oda-Burns (AW), 5. Miles (K), 6. Kieling (K), 7. Redfern (K), 8. Garvue (The Northwest School), 9. Ritchie (SC), 10. Fournier (BC).

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