Kabasenche surprises, takes 2A state cross country title; Deer Park boys repeat

PASCO – Elyria Kabasenche couldn’t wipe the smile off her face as she walked through the shute at the end of the State 1A girls cross country race Saturday.

Kabasenche walked about 50 yards, relishing what she had just accomplished. The Pullman junior captured a state championship, finishing in 18 minutes, 41.3 seconds at Sun Willows Golf Course.

“I knew I had it in me but I wasn’t sure I could find it if it got hard,” Kabasenche said.

And it got hard. Kabasenche outdueled Sehome’s Abby Johnson to the finish line. Kabasenche won by 1.5 seconds.

Kabasenche helped Pullman finish third with 116 points. Selah (92) claimed the title.

“I took the lead at the 2 ½-mile mark and I knew I had to make it happen,” Kabasenche said. “When I was coming up the hill she tried to pass me. That’s when I knew I had to turn it on. I knew that was the one move she had in her.”

Kabasenche knew she could outlast Johnson to the finish line.

“I know that when it gets really, really hard I can find it in me when it hurts,” said Kabasenche, who finished fifth a year ago. “My coach always says never settle. So I knew I wouldn’t be happy with myself if I didn’t go. So I went and I couldn’t feel my arms and I couldn’t feel my legs. It was all mental. I can’t believe I’m state champion. It doesn’t feel real.”

But boy could she smile at the end.

In the boys, Jacob Nicholson of West Valley finished sixth (16:08.4) and teammate Cody Skay (16:22.1) was 10th. Cheney took fourth and Sehome won the state title.

1A: Deer Park’s boys defended their state title, finishing with 83 points – 12 ahead of Medical Lake.

Cody Bollum led the Stags, taking fifth (16:14.3).

Ben Shaw of Riverside took second (15:50.3).

“I wanted at least second,” said Shaw, who was third last year. “I beat kids who got me in the past. I could have been a little faster but I’m happy.”

Deer Park coach Scott Daratha didn’t know what to expect even though his team was ranked No. 1 all season.

Medical Lake beat the Stags by a point at the league dual and Deer Park got the Cardinals by a point at district.

“It’s been a ride,” Daratha said. “Four seniors have been in the program for four years. They did the things they had to do and believed in the program and believed in the workouts and got the job done for us.”

Libby Michael of Deer Park took second (18:30.8), 25 seconds behind the winner. She helped the Stags to second behind champion Northwest of Seattle. Riverside finished third.

“My goal was the top three,” said Michael, a sophomore. “The last mile was really hard. The pain kept building up.”

2B/1B: Defending champ Madison Ward of Deer Park was hampered by toe surgery and a stress fracture during the season.

Try as she might, Ward came up short Saturday. She finished second (19:20.4), 28 seconds behind a freshman winner.

“I really tried to stick with her the first mile but she’s really good,” Ward said. “Congrats to her. I definitely wanted to win but second is good.”

In the boys, Tyler Shea of Northwest Christian took third (16:27.7), leading the Crusaders to fourth. Teammate Jack Ammon (16:35.2) took fifth.