Lakewood runners head to state

Thanks to a solid performance in the District 1, 2A cross country meet Oct. 30, Lakewood will send three boys and one girl to the state meet.

The District 1 race, which was held at Lakewood High School, saw the Cougars place fourth in the boys division and the seventh in the girls division.

“2As in District 1 are, quite frankly, the toughest squads in the state,” Lakewood cross country coach Jeff Sowards said, noting if the boys had raced in 3A, then they would have placed second. “That’s the way it goes. That is racing.”

Junior Gavin Darrah placed 12th running in 16:43, Jarron Ransford finished 18th running 16:48 and Matthew Hatch finished 19th running 16:49. The top three teams and the top 21 runners advance to state.

Joining Darrah, Ransford and Hatch at the state race will be Kayla Schueller, who placed 17th by running 20:35.

“We’re pleased with the senior’s effort to make it to state for the first time,” Sowards said of Schueller’s performance.

He added Darrah, Ransford, Hatch and RJ Lydon, along with Schueller, Kayly Barrett and Addie Moore ran personal bests during the District 1 meet.

Joey Heisley suffered a fall about 600 yards into the race but finished within 14 seconds of his personal best. “He did a great job recovering from that spill,” Sowards said. Heisley ran 17:52 placing 41st.

The course, which was the same route as the Hole in the Wall Invitational that took place in early October, was a little slower and wet Saturday, Sowards said. Even though the morning was cold, the temperature at race time was in the upper 40s, which Sowards said was “perfect racing weather.”

Lakewood travels to the state cross country meet that takes place Saturday, Nov. 6, at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco.