PASCO — When the Pope John Paul II girls cross country team last hoisted the 1B/2B state championship trophy in 2023, Isla Valpiani and Ruby Henry were both wide-eyed but promising freshmen.
Henry was the first Thurston County freshman to ever win a state title that year, and Valpiani put forth her best run yet in 17th place.
Fast forward three years, and Henry and Valpiani are back where it all started.
On top.
The Pope John Paul II girls cross country team earned its fifth state title in the past seven years on Saturday, Nov. 7 at the 1B/2B state meet at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco. With the boys state title on the same day, it’s the first time in school history that both teams won the state championship.
The last team to do that at the 1B and 2B levels was Northwest Christian, which, coincidentally, was coached at the time by current Pope John Paul II head coach Larry Weber, in 2014.
Returning to the top of the podium brought back some nostalgic memories for the Pope John Paul II seniors, but one stark difference lies between the 2023 Eagles and the 2026 Eagles.
In a word, speed.
The 2026 squad averaged times of 20 minutes and 52.2 seconds, while the 2023 team averaged 21 minutes and 20.1 seconds.
“We are much better. It’s a very young team, but we’re just very united,” Valpiani said.
“We are definitely much faster than we were,” Henry added. “But we’ve definitely kept the community and the heart of the team and kept Jesus at the center of it. We’ve definitely kept that focus.”
Valpiani was Pope John Paul II’s highest finisher in fifth place at 19 minutes and 26.3 seconds, over two minutes better than her freshman state time of 21:29.8. In each trip to Pasco, her time has improved significantly. It jumped from 21:29.8 in 2023 to 21:09.2 in 2024, and she ran under 21 minutes in 2025 at 20:33. Valpiani’s final state meet saw her cut her time down on the course by well over a minute.
“It’s so special to me. It’s wonderful to reflect on how far I’ve come and how far my team has come together,” Valpiani said. “My team hasn’t won since my freshman year, and it brings back the most wonderful memories. I’m so proud of everyone.”
Valpiani finished her final prep season with a monster postseason, winning both the league and district titles and earning a top-five finish at state. Weber praised his senior runner for taking her game to another level when the races mattered the most.
“She was focused on what she could control while being a great team leader and encouraging the girls,” he said. “She’s grown so much. She’s a strong leader.”
Freshman Kyra Deutscher also enjoyed a stellar postseason in her debut campaign, clinching a spot on the state podium in seventh place at 19:42.8, which breaks her own school freshman record by six seconds.
In 20th place, freshman Mira Valpiani (21:16.5) edged out teammate and senior Chloe Summers (21:16.7) by two-tenths of a second.
Henry concluded her decorated prep career with a 23rd-place finish at 21:18.2, capping off a season full of toughness and perseverance.
“I developed plantar fasciitis a week into racing, so I wasn’t able to race or run very much at all,” Henry said. “It was really special for me to be able to come back and show up for the team and have this one last successful race that I feel really good about. I’ve taken some of the freshmen under my wing and poured into them. Focusing on that has made my injury much easier.”
In four years, Henry earned four top-25 state finishes, including three in the top 11 and two in the top five, as well as three district titles and three league titles. She also holds the school race record at 18:42.2 and is the only Pope John Paul II to run under 19 minutes.
“She knew coming in that she wasn’t going to have her best race, but she did it for the team. I’m so proud of her and so proud of how she handled herself today,” Weber said. “She had some tough luck this year, but she was there for her teammates. She gave back. She would take some of our freshmen alternates and encourage them on runs before state. The character is so fun to see, and the outreach of these kids is awesome.”
Freshman Alix Valpiani took home 28th place at 21:32.2, crushing her previous PR by 19 seconds. Senior Lily Warne-McGraw placed 32nd at 21:35.9.
Rainier was represented at the podium by junior Komaire Robles, who notched her third career state medal in 10th place at 19:53.3. It hasn’t been the season that Robles nor Rainier imagined with injuries and new leaders in different roles amongst the veteran runners two years removed from the Mountaineers winning the state title. But Robles believes the best is yet to come for Rainier with most of its roster returning in 2027.
Robles has dealt with shin injuries and hasn’t been able to match her PR set at last year’s state meet, but she still finished her junior season with a league title, district title.and a spot on the 4A girls podium.
“It was a really cool experience. Not the race I wanted, but it’s always a blessing to be up there,” she said. “Mentally, I’m taking on a new leadership role and trying to bring up a team that I think was a little discouraged after some races this season. I’m just trying to keep a good mindset and go out and run.”
Rainier junior Alexis Myers, who clinched Rainier’s second-highest finish at 21:47.5, took 36th place, while senior Kinsley Barlow ran 24:12.0 to finish in 78th place. Junior Ruby King added an 86th-place time of 24:37.7 as Rainier earned seventh place as a team.
Toledo junior Braelyn Nyberg was the top Lewis County runner in 46th place at 22:21.8. Toledo freshman Katie Hill, at 23:00.3, finished in 63rd place in her debut state meet. Adna sophomore Iris Ballif, 66th at 23:10.9, was followed closely by Onalaska sophomore Tia Henderson, 67th at 23:19.9. Adna freshman Chloe Gelvin’s time of 23:50.9 was good enough for 74th, and Mossyrock freshman Ella Nolan (23:57.7 in 75th) and Mossyrock eighth grader Leah Wedam (23:59.1 in 76th) were less than two seconds apart.
Toledo freshman Sarah Ball topped teammate Audrey Cooper by less than a second, with Ball finishing in 80th at 24:19.7 and Cooper taking 81st at 24:20.1. Adna freshman Aleece Ballif placed 89th at 24:43.3.
