What to watch for at state cross country

A few of the many local runners and teams to watch during Saturday’s cross-country state championships in Pasco:

LOCAL RUNNERS TO WATCH

Taylor Roe, sr., Lake Stevens.The two-time cross-country state champion has the second-fastest girls time in the state regardless of classification (17:22.6), trailing only Issaquah sophomore and fellow Class 4A title contender Julia David-Smith (17:16.4). Roe won back-to-back state titles as a freshman and sophomore before placing second in last year’s state meet, finishing just 2.6 seconds behind then-senior Katie Thronson of Lewis and Clark.

Deyago Peraza, sr., Edmonds-Woodway. Peraza, a second-year distance runner, has the second-fastest 3A boys time in the state (15:14.2) and the sixth-fastest boys time regardless of classification. Gig Harbor senior Bradley Peloquin is the only 3A boys runner with a faster time (15:06.5).

Naomi Smith, jr., King’s.Smith, the overwhelming 1A girls favorite, has the third-fastest girls time in the state regardless of classification (17:27.9). The second-year cross-country runner, who placed seventh in last year’s state meet, owns the fastest 1A time in the state by nearly 29 seconds.

Joseph Skoog, sr., Jackson.Skoog has the sixth-fastest 4A boys time in the state (15:23.5) and the 11th-fastest boys time regardless of classification.

Isaac Cortes, jr., Granite Falls.Cortes owns the fourth-fastest 1A boys time in the state (16:12.7), trailing state-leading Nathan Schneider of Meridian by less than 10 seconds.

LOCAL TEAMS TO WATCH

Glacier Peak girls.The Grizzlies are among the favorites to win the 4A girls team title, led by a tightly packed group of five runners ranked in the top 20 of their classification. The top times for the Glacier Peak quintet of Aviry Stratton, Samantha Boyle, Brooke Wallace, Alexis Palmer and Lindsay Ardry are all within 13.1 seconds of one another.

Edmonds-Woodway boys.The senior-laden Warriors return all seven runners from a team that placed fourth in last year’s 3A state meet. Edmonds-Woodway is led by the senior trio of Peraza, Lucas Lacambra and Dylan Hartono, who each are ranked among the top 10 in the 3A classification.

Arlington boys.The Eagles have seven runners ranked in the top 35 of the 3A classification. Arlington, which placed ninth in last year’s state meet, joins Kamiakin and Edmonds-Woodway as leading contenders for the 3A team title.

NOTABLE

Everett freshmen Brianna Marshall and Emma Larson qualified for the 3A state meet, giving the Seagulls multiple girls state qualifiers for the first time in at least 15 years.