The Archbishop Murphy boys and girls cross country teams have several runners capable of making it to state, but the Wildcats probably lack the depth to make it as a team this season.
“I think we’re building, but we’re a year or two away yet,” coach Don McClure said.
The boys and girls cross country teams each return one state participant this season.
For the boys, junior Kyle Ryan is back after finishing 69th at state last year with a time of 18 minutes, 23 seconds on the 3.1-mile course at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco. He is the younger brother of Justin Ryan, who led the Wildcats with a 22nd place finish as a senior last year.
Next in the lineup is senior Nick Anderson, who like Kyle Ryan, is posting times in the mid-18s right now. Ryan finished fifth with a time of 18:31 at a four-team meet at Lakewood High School Sept. 14. Anderson came in sixth with a time of 18:48.
Sophomore Kevin Claggett, freshman Erik McCaughan, senior Taylor Loutsis and junior Keegan Van Zile round out the top six.
On the girls side, the Wildcats are led by junior Lauren Moran, who finished 36th at state last year with a time of 21:07.
The team’s other state participant junior Liz Sandoval, who was 55th, decided to compete in crew instead of cross country this year. The Wildcats also lost its third-best runner Erica Prentice, who decided to work instead.
As result, freshman Shelby Lyman will fill the second slot. At Lakewood on Sept. 14, Moran finished second with a time of 20:53 and Lyman came in fifth with a 21:28.
Junior Emily Suchan is fourth in the lineup followed by junior Amy Dean and a slew of freshmen.
The Wildcats face a tough road getting to state as a team with several 3A schools moving down to 2A as part of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association’s reclassification in offseason. Sehome, Burlington-Edison and Bellingham are now all 2A schools and were ranked in the top three by the state cross country coaches association. The allocation of state berths are expected to be announced by the WIAA on Sept. 25.
“We have a lot more competition coming on,” McClure said. “It’s going to be a lot harder to qualify as a team, but I think we’ll qualify as individuals.”
Ryan and Anderson “have a good shot,” of earning a state berth for the boys, while Moran and Lyman have the best opportunity for the girls, McClure said.
The boys team boasts more depth with 26 runners out compared to 14 for the girls.
In the Cascade Conference, Lakewood and South Whidbey are both ranked in 2A, with strong boys and girls programs. Class 1A King’s boys and girls teams also are ranked in the top five.
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