In two fairly tightly-contested races, Tumwater’s John Hoffer won the 2A District 4 Cross Country individual title for the boys, and Washougal’s Sydnee Boothby won on the girls side Wednesday afternoon at Lewis River near Woodland.
Hoffer led the Thunderbirds to a team title as well, running the race in 15:50 to barely eek past Washougal’s Samuel Grice, who finished one second back of Hoffer.
Needing to finish in the top-35 to advance to the state race next week, Tumwater earned six more qualifiers: Brenden Hamilton finished eighth in 16:34, Alan Penrose finished 16th in 17:06, Reis Howell finished 17th in 17:07, Mason Ball finished 20th in 17:09, Nathan Klingelhoffer finished 33rd in 17:39, and Jude Furubotten was the final qualifier at 35th in 17:41.
Centralia’s Devin Harrison was the lone Tiger to qualify, running the race in 17:05, good for 15th and a state berth. W.F. West’s lone runner to advance was Jaysen Miles, who ran the course in 17:34, good for 28th.
Rochester’s Gunnar Morgan also qualified, finishing 22nd in 17:12, and Black Hills Luke Grunenfelder was the lone Wolf to qualify, finishing 14th in 17:00.
On the girls side, Boothby’s top finish was enough to help Washougal to the team title. The top area finisher was Tumwater’s Annabelle Clapp, who ran the course in 20:48, good for 14th. Centralia’s Elyse O’Dell finished 27th, running the 5,000-meter course in 21:12 to qualify.
The 2A State Cross Country Championships take place next Saturday at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco.
