ONALASKA — Of all the schools in the C2BL, only Rainier High School fields enough girls for a team score. What remains to be seen on a per meet basis is if it finishes 1-2-3-4-5 to total a perfect team score of 15 points.
The Mountaineers put up the stellar number once again on Thursday night.
Senior Madison Ingram secured her second consecutive C2BL individual championship with a finishing time of 20 minutes, 12 seconds at Carlisle Lake Park across the road from Onalaska High School.
“We put a lot of our motivation with each other,” Ingram said. “It is like a chain of all of us. We all try to go out together and it is fun at the end. We’re all happy about it.”
Freshmen Komaire Robles and Alexis Myers crossed the finish line in second and fourth, on the ends of a third place finish from first-year cross runner Jazzlyn Shumate. Sophomore Kinsley Barlow was fifth overall.
Another sophomore – Rayanna Wisner – finished seventh to grab all-league honors despite not counting towards the team score.
Coach Rob Henry knew the talent that Robles and Myers had watching them in middle school. Coupled with the emergence of Shumate, a state qualifier in the mid-distance in track last spring, and Barlow has solidified the lineup.
“After the first week, we saw what we had and we had some talent,” Henry said. “They are working their tails off. The good part is the competition between teammates is fantastica; it is positive.”
“Everyone inspires me and everyone brings each other up,” Robles added. “It is a really great environment.”
Ingram went from the new girl to leader for Rainier in the span of a year. After transferring from NW Christian (Lacey) to the Mountaineers, she has adjusted to the role model her teammates look up to.
In her mind, it’s been more than good.
“It came naturally,” Ingram said. “I try to be the motivator. When there’s new kids, welcome them like they welcomed me.”
Winning the bronze division of the Fort Steilacoom Invite plus placing fifth at the Nike Twilight, Rainier has been tested heading into hosting next week’s Class 1B/2B district meet. What still lies ahead is a potential state meet battle between Pope John Paul and xxxxxx.
The last time Henry scored the meet based on best times, the difference was a miniscule four points.
“State is everyone’s dream,” Robles said. “We all have faith in ourselves to keep in mind. We’re going for the best we can do.”
Mossyrock’s Joan Wedam notched her third consecutive top-10 finish at leagues, placing sixth in a new season best time of 22:25.90. The junior is seeking to rekindle her performances from her freshman year, winning districts and placing top-20 at state.
“Hoping to get top-10 in districts,” Wedam said.
Winlock’s Victoria Sancho and Natalie Cardenas Hernandez finished in the top-10 while Toledo’s Lilly Cooper snared ninth place. Adna’s Megan Price was 11th and Morton-White Pass’ duo of Gemma Jakubowski and Isabella Mcarthy were 13th and 14th, respectively.
Onalaska’s Lilly Miller was 16th. The district meet is slated for next Saturday at Rainier Elementary School.
