Kristianson’s Talent Can Go The Distance Chewelah Star Makes A Run At A/B Cross Country Championship

A bsolutely not. Forget about it. There’s no way you can get me to do that.

Sprinter Hayden Kristianson emphatically refused to abandon her precious 100- and 200-meter dashes for middle distances.

No chance. Take a hike. I won’t do it.

Middle-distance runner Kristianson balked at leaving the volleyball team for cross country.

Now long-distance runner Kristianson has nothing left to turn down. Well, almost nothing.

“I don’t think anyone could convince me to do the 2 mile,” the Chewelah senior said this week as she prepared for Saturday’s WIAA/Dairy Farmers of Washington State A/B meet in Pasco.

Seems strange that Kristianson, the area’s best 3-miler in her classification, would shy away from a 2-mile race.

The problem with 2 miles, she said, is the scenery and not the distance. Blazing around a track twice for an 800-meter run is fun; eight times around for the 3,200 is mundane.

Kristianson isn’t one to sit still. She reserves autumns and springs for running and more running. Winter is time for basketball, at which her great strength is running the court.

“It’s a sport that never stresses me out,” Kristianson said of basketball. “I try to use my speed. That’s the one thing I have out there.”

As a freshman in track, Kristianson succeeded at the 100 and 200. Her coaches, however, saw the makings for a good middle-distance type.

Her sophomore year, Kristianson won the State A 400 and 800 titles. She had run the 800 just six times.

Kristianson believed she was fortunate to win the 400 because Foster’s LaShaunda Fowler, the favorite, had been disqualified.

So the fall of her junior year Kristianson left volleyball, turning to cross country to enhance her chances in the 800 in track.

Although a case of strep throat slowed her, Kristianson won the District 7-A/B cross country title and successfully defended her state 800 title.

Last week at Hangman Valley Golf Course, Kristianson repeated as district cross country champ.

“I especially enjoyed it this year because I’m not like a rookie at it,” Kristianson said.

Because of the extra maturity, Kristianson expects a better showing at state than last year’s 18th-place finish.

She also likes her team’s chances at state. Chewelah, seventh last year and ranked fifth this season, didn’t have enough runners for a team two years ago.

“I don’t think anybody knows what we’re made of,” Kristianson said of the team of sophomores Kristen Grytdal, Piper Moore, Danielle Giessen and Stephanie Kassa, and freshmen Michelle Kinley and Saydee Weatherman.

When cross country and basketball are finished, she promises to expand her horizons in track. Kristianson will add the 1,600 and long jump to her repertoire this year.

“I’m doing things for fun, just to see what I can do,” said Kristianson.

Kristianson, who maintains a 3.6 grade-point average, hopes to run at the University of Washington. , DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: STATE CROSS COUNTRY Information on Saturday’s WIAA/Dairy Farmers of Washington state championship meets at Pasco’s Sun Willows Golf Course:

AAA boys: Time - 2 p.m. Defending champs - Mead, Isaac Hawkins of Ferris. Favorites - Mead, Hawkins. Local watch: Jason Fayant, Ryan Wiser and Morgan Thompson, Mead; James Berry and Seth Mott; University; Casey Perry, Shadle Park; Jon Caballero and Justin Hill, North Central; Cameron Hatch, Rogers. AAA girls: Time - 12:15. Defending champs - Snohomish, Laura Snipes of Snohomish. Favorites - Eisenhower, Jennifer Smith of Ferris. Local watch: Jill Johnson and Emily Hawkins, Ferris; Jamie Borgan, Lewis and Clark; Katie Pollock, Mead; Taraka Campbell, U-Hi. AA boys: Time - 1:25. Defending champ - Gig Harbor. Favorites - East Valley (Yakima), Brandon Hauver of EV (Yakima). Local watch: Jon Ashcraft, Riverside; Clayton Holmes and Sean McLachlan, West Valley. AA girls: Time - 11:40 a.m. Defending champs - East Valley (Spokane), Ann Ramsey of Lakeside (Seattle). Favorites - EV, Jeannette Zimmer of Cheney. Local watch - Cara Smith and Ann Marie Adams, EV; Jessica Riehle, WV; Crystal Evans, Colville. A/B boys: Time - 12:50 p.m. Defending champs - Chewelah, Jim Reed of Ridgefield. Favorites - Chewelah, Reed. Local watch - Kent Potter, Neil Small, David Yarnell and Asher Ernst, Chewelah; Brian Kehne and Hans Peterson, Colfax; Mike Witt, Lakeside. A/B girls: Time - 11 a.m. Defending champs - Omak, Amy King of Kings. Favorites - Mount Baker, King. Local watch - Hayden Kristianson, Chewelah; Jaime Stone, Deer Park; Lindsey McElroy, Lakeside.